According to a study by Extreme Reach, the number of commercials delivered in High Definition in the US has increased by up to 50%. According to Extreme Reach, HD ads accounted for only 10% of all ads distributed by advertisers to broadcast and cable media outlets in 2010. However, that number has doubled in 2011. Extreme Reach lists reduced distribution costs, better penetration of HD broadcasters and better campaign execution as the reasons for the increase.

New research by In-Stat reveals despite TV apps are not the reason for consumers purchasing connected TVs, over 60% of connected households will use a TV app at least once weekly. The Q2'11 US Digital Entertainment Database report indicates advent smart TV consumers are rapidly adopting online TV applications that are integrated into their connected TVs.

Apple’s rumoured entry into the connected HDTV market would bring as much as $50 to $100 billion to its market cap, according to a new report from analyst Maynard Um of UBS Investment Research—if Apple can gain enough market share to catch HDTV leaders like Samsung and Phillips.

Rapid TV News reports that according to a recent study by Nielsen, How People Watch, 27,000 online consumers in 55 countries were surveyed, revealing that around 70 per cent of consumers watch videos online, and tablet PCs expanding the definition of mobile video, with 11% of connected consumers saying they already owned or planned to purchase a tablet PC (such as an iPad) in the next year.

Rapid TV News reports that Orbit-Showtime Network will add another six high-definition channels for Middle East viewers, marking the biggest development in TV in the last 15 years. OSN now has a total of nine HDTV channels in less than two months. Only subscribers who have swapped their old receivers with the new ones can view the new services.

Rapid TV News reports that Orbit-Showtime Network (OSN) has been relaunched yesterday to offer a new look and eight new channels, three of which are in high definition. Viewers will not be able to view the three HDTV channels unless they get the new set-top box, which will not be available for a few weeks. It will take about 9 months before all subscribers get a new one.

RapidTVNews reports that Dubai says its 5 TV channels will go HDTV. “The move is in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,” said the official communiqué.

Rapid TV News reports that Northern Sky Research (NSR) predicts a spectacular 2400% increase in the number of HDTV channels over the Middle East and North Africa between 2007 and 2017. That could be a miracle given that there’s barely an hour’s worth of HDTV on air over the region.