US consumers passed a key digital landmark last month. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, a Washington-based industry group, more than half of US households now own digital television sets – and most of those digital TVs are capable of displaying high-definition content.

The Consumer Electronics Show will showcase the latest HDTV sets from leading manufacturers including Samsung, LG Electronics, Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba and Philips as well as low-cost rivals such as US-based Vizio and Westinghouse, which have grabbed a significant slice of the booming US high-definition TV market – in spite of evidence that many consumers remain confused about the advantages of digital and high-definition TV.