The Consumer Behavior Report examined HDTV purchasing trends and fall TV trends, surveying 1,915 online electronics consumers from 08 to 22 September 2008. The report also compared the findings with results from a similar PriceGrabber survey of 2,186 online consumers conducted in August 2006.

According to the study, the popularity of HDTVs has grown significantly over the past two years, with 57 per cent of consumers now saying they own an HDTV, compared with 30 per cent a year ago. LCD TVs are preferred by 57 per cent of respondents who say they own an HDTV.

PriceGrabber says that nearly 75 per cent of those polled who do not own an HDTV plan to buy one within the next 12 months.

The survey says the average price for LCD and plasma HDTVs has dropped 13 per cent, and the average price for rear-projection HDTVs has fallen 27 per cent over the last two years.

"However, 50 per cent of HDTV owners indicate that their primary motivation for purchasing an HDTV was not significant price drops, but rather the improved picture and audio quality derived from switching from standard-definition to HD programming," PriceGrabber said.

Fifty-six per cent of survey respondents admit to watching more than six hours of TV per week, and 30 per cent for more than 10 hours per week. Of those respondents, 64 per cent watch all their programs on a traditional television, and a mere 3 per cent stream television programs on PCs.