Europe is on the verge of an HDTV revolution, according to a new report from Euroconsult and MPA.

At the moment, 59 million households across the continent have an HD-enabled TV set. This seems a considerable number, but the figure is set to go through the roof in the next few years.

According to the report, by 2010 the figure will double to 116 million, meaning HDTV will reach over half of all the households on the continent. But the figures are set to continue their rapid upward trend. By 2013 the figure will have tripled to around 170, rising even further to a massive 220 million by 2018.

There are a number of factors that will lead to this huge uptake in HD-enabled TVs. The most obvious is that more areas are now able to pick up HD channels, and this will go hand-in-hand with the uptake of the sets. After all, it’s no use having a set if you can’t watch any HD content on it.

The other factors include the increasing practice of television manufactures to include a built-in HD compatibility in preparation for the next generation of home viewing. The fall in prices for flat-screen TVs over the last few years has also had an effect and will continue to do so.

The report also highlights the increasing number of HD channels on offer across the continent. There were 130 such channels available last year, but this is set to rocket to 600 by 2013, which will help to add to the huge demand in HDTV sets.