A report today by the Daily Telegraph quotes figures from market-research company GfK indicating that 10m TVs were sold in the United Kingdom in 2009.

January 25, 2010 — Research reported today by the Daily Telegraph claims that 2009 saw record sales of 10m TV sets, and that large flat-panel TVs are therefore one sector still enjoying strong demand despite the global financial crisis. Booming global sales over recent years have driven down the price of flat-panel televisions, and the newspaper cites the “digital switchover” — the UK’s process of moving from analogue to digital TV transmissions — as a driving factor for increased flat-panel uptake. But research published recently by the BBC suggests that the vast majority of HDTV owners in the UK fail to make the most of their new TV’s higher-definition screen, and instead use it to watch standard-definition (SD) content. The arrival of receivers for Freeview HD this spring might change that, but many have warned that the high cost of the set-top boxes could dilute consumers’ enthusiasm.