Installing Dealers See 2003 as a Banner Year for Entertainment Systems

Recent results from Parks Associates Installing Dealer ePanel survey indicate 2003 will be a banner year for sales of whole-house audio and home theater systems. The survey, conducted in the first quarter of 2003, found that 85% of dealers specializing in entertainment systems expect overall sales in 2003 to exceed sales in 2002.

Installing Dealers See 2003 as a Banner Year for Entertainment Systems

May 29, 2003 (PRWEB) -- Recent results from Parks Associates Installing Dealer ePanel survey indicate 2003 will be a banner year for sales of whole-house audio and home theater systems. The survey, conducted in the first quarter of 2003, found that 85% of dealers specializing in entertainment systems expect overall sales in 2003 to exceed sales in 2002.

More than three-fourths of these same dealers reported that 2002 was up over 2001, so they plan to see two consecutive years of positive growth," said Bill Ablondi, Director of ePanel Research. Whole-house audio and home theater systems outperformed dealers expectations in 2002, and theyre seeing increased demand for entertainment-related systems."

Dealers are incorporating advanced technologies and features into their entertainment systems as well. More than 40% of dealers already use data-centric networks to distribute audio content in the systems they install, and they reported that one-third of the whole-house audio and home theater systems they install are connected to the Internet. They expect to see the percentage of Internet-connected audio systems to increase to 45% in 2003.

Internet-connected home entertainment networks are the next wave in the connected home environment," said Tricia Parks, President of Parks Associates. Currently, the primary motivation for homeowners to install a PC LAN is to share a broadband connection. Accessing, storing, cataloging, and distributing audio and video content will drive home networking for the rest of this decade."

Dealers on the Installing Dealer ePanel were evenly divided when asked if home automation projects begin with home theater installations, with 48% indicating that these entertainment-based projects lead to more general automation efforts. To this end, approximately 80% of dealers actively seek to expand home theater jobs into broader automation and/or control projects, and their efforts are successful in nearly one-third of such cases.

Parks Associates Installing Dealer ePanel is comprised of principals from installing dealerships across the U.S. who have agreed to participate in periodic surveys focusing on the products they are supporting, those theyre not, and the rationale behind their decisions. In addition to product-related research, Parks Associates profiles participating dealers with the goal of understanding how their business models are changing.

For information about Parks Associates Installing Dealer ePanel, visit www.parksassociates.com, e-mail sales@parksassociates.com, or call 972-490-1113.

About Parks Associates: Parks Associates is a market research and consulting firm that provides information and analysis on emerging residential, small office, and light commercial technologies. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, multiclient studies, consumer research, workshops, and custom-tailored client solutions.

Its market expertise encompasses the full range of connected-home solutions, including home networks, digital entertainment, broadband and Internet services, and home systems. Parks Associates also hosts two industry events, Forum and CONNECTIONS (in partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association), each year. www.parksassociates.com.