Digital growth in TV and related media platforms will continue growing strongly over the next five years, Media Post reported.

By 2012, DVRs will reach nearly 43 million homes globally, 36 percent of TV households, up from 24 percent, or 27.2 million homes today, according to Magna group.

Brian Weiser, senior vice president and director of industry analysis for Magna, estimated that true video-on-demand capabilities from cable operators will be available in 54 percent of TV homes, or 63.6 million households, increasing from 35 percent of TV homes, or 39 million homes now.

Broadband access will keep on growing, and in five years will reach 80.2 million households, the research predicts, Media Post reported.

Weiser added that new network DVRs – devices that are placed in a cable operators' head-end operations – eliminate the need for DVRs in the household. “It will have a near-term small effect on the growth of DVR in U.S. TV homes,” said Weiser, according to Media Post. "Network DVRs could contribute to marginally higher DVR penetration rates."

Weiser noted that the key advantages of network-DVR systems are lower costs to the cable operator. However, they will still wait and see for other MSOs who are down the path with their conventional DVR set-tops.