The success of terrestrial digital television system Freeview will slow in 2003 after a strong start, according to a survey.

Retailers have been reporting a boom in sales of the �99 set-top boxes, with 65,000 sold in its first two weeks, along with more than one million enquiries.

But research into the predicted take-up of digital television has indicated that just one in 10 people who do not yet have access to digital television are "very likely" to buy a Freeview box in the next year.

A further 19% of respondents answered that they were "quite likely" to buy a �99 Freeview box in the coming 12 months.

The survey was conducted by the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) to look at the interactive elements of digital television, including pay-per-view and interactive programming and advertising.

Stars such as Alan Hanson are promoting Freeview

The survey estimates that 41% of adults has access to digital television at home.

Of this group, 70% subscribed to Sky digital and 23% were hooked up to a digital cable company such as NTL.

Prior to the launch of the BBC's Freeview in October, 6% watched digital through digital terrestrial and this has now risen to 8%.

Red button

The Government has set a target for all analogue signals to be switched off by 2010, provided there is a big enough proportion of homes connected to digital.

The survey also questioned viewers on their use of interactive elements on digital television - usually pressing the red button on a remote control to get further information on a programme or an advert.

Almost two-thirds of digital viewers found interactive services easy to use, but 28% found the opposite to be true in their experience.

"The results of this survey show that those involved in digital television still have a lot to do to convince consumers of its benefits," said BMRB International senior associate director Gary Austin.

"Interactive advertising is still in its infancy with the vast majority of digital viewers yet to have interacted with an ad via digital TV.

"That said, for each element of the interactive package, there exists an enthusiastic niche audience to build upon."