The rise of digital TV seems unstoppable - in all its formats

More than 10 million UK households have now converted to digital TV, equivalent to more than 41% of the country's homes.

It puts Britain neck and neck with the US in digital uptake, followed closely by Germany.

British market leader BSkyB announced this week it had added 269,000 UK subscribers in the six months to the end of June.

It now beams digital satellite signals into more than 6.5 million homes.

NTL, the country's biggest cable operator, said it had added 40,000 digital TV subscribers in the same six-month period.

Its rival Telewest Communications said it had picked up 54,000 more digital viewers.

Digital terrestrial service Freeview has grown at the quickest pace as the price of conversion boxes has dropped to less than �70.

According to figures from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, it signed up 637,000 viewers during the first half of 2003 - making a total of 1.5 million.

Freeview, backed by the BBC and BSkyB, does not charge a subscription fee and provides 30 free-to-air digital channels. It transmits its signals through rooftop aerials.

Countries are moving towards shutting off analogue TV signals to improve airwave efficiency.

Digital also allows for more channels, delivers sharper pictures and clearer sound, and enables interactive features.