Measurement giant Nielsen finally released estimates of high-defi-nition-set penetration for both the United States and Local People Meter markets, and the numbers may surprise some consumer-electronics manufacturers and programmers. They might find them rather low—particularly given the recent momentum of HD-set sales and launches of HD networks.rnThey may also disappoint advertisers, which have long been seeking clarity on the actual size of the HD audience.rnNielsen found that only 11.3% of U.S. TV households, or some 12.7 million homes, are equipped with an HD television and tuner and receive HD programming. That is about 20% lower than the estimates of major cable programmers, who say that set-top data indicates that 15.5 million homes receive high-definition programming from their cable, satellite or telco provider. ESPN HD, for example, has 15 million subscribers. Perhaps another 500,000 homes get HD off-air, for a total of 16 million homes.
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