OYSTER BAY, NY – Asia-Pacific will be responsible for half of the 220 million unit set-top box market from 2013, says ABI Research.

A jump in cable and satellite set-top box shipments in Asia-Pacific markets is being driven by cable digitization in India and China, as well as China’s rollout of digital satellite boxes to its rural households, says the firm.

“Digital transitions are bringing consumers access to hundreds of international channels and a few HD services for the first time. Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe’s growth in set-top box units will outstrip those of the rest of the world in the next five years,” said Sam Rosen, practice director of TV & video at ABI Research.