Digital TV is due to replace analogue completely by 2010

The report - published by the Informa Media Group - said digital services are expected to reach 365 million global households by the end of the decade.

However, even if 91% of households switched - the figure predicted in the US - governments would be unlikely to switch off old analogue transmitters.

Culture secretary Tessa Jowell said the 2010 deadline "remains attainable".

The fourth edition of the Global Digital Television report says that analogue switch-off is extremely unlikely in any of the 43 countries covered in the report, including Britain.

This is despite the fact that Britain will have the world's highest digital penetration rate by the end of this year, with 59% of homes receiving digital signals.

Tessa Jowell said the 2010 deadline "remains attainable"

By 2010, the report predicts that 65% of global TV homes will still receive analogue transmissions.

North America will have the highest digital penetration, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific.

The report coincides with news that the UK government has begun the process of setting a date for switching off Britain's analogue service.

The government has said it wants to phase out analogue broadcasts between 2006 and 2010.