Report: Nearly half of HDTV owners don't watch in high-def

According to a new report from market research firm In-Stat, 17 million of the 39 million U.S. households that have a HDTV (or 44 percent) don't make use of high-def programming available from their cable or satellite providers (or, apparently, even over-the-air local HD channels).

My initial reaction to this finding is to blame TV makers, retailers, and/or programming providers for still not educating consumers that they can only see things in high-def if they have an HD source, but In-Stat analyst Michael Paxton told CD Freaks that the cost and the relative dearth of high-def programming are the biggest reasons people are sticking with standard-definition content. In fact, Paxton says that lack of knowledge about HD has waned as a reason for people not watching in high-def.

Do you agree? Do you have an HDTV and don't bother with HD programming? Let us know in our Talkback section.