PMA Research says, for the full year 2014, sales of home projectors are expected to surge by 25 percent over 2013.

While this past summer’s World Cup contributed meaningfully to that growth, increased affordability, connectivity and versatility of home projectors played pivotal roles in driving growth throughout the entire year including a strong holiday season. Also, in advanced countries, the current window between the initial flat panel craze of several years ago and the first, large wave of replacements that may or may not materialize in the next few years is also contributing to buoyant growth in the home projector market.

Aggressive pricing of 1080p projectors, which have now fallen below $700, has sparked first-time purchases and replacement sales in the U.S., Western Europe, and other advanced countries. At the same time, attractive prices for 1080p, 720p, and even standard aspect ratio projectors have untapped demand from many first-time buyers in ASEAN countries, China, and Latin America. And with image sizes for projectors topping 100 inches, flat panel TVs do not come close to competing with projectors on a price vs. image-size basis.

Also, growth in the home projector market hasn’t been limited to low-priced projectors. Sales of step-up models as well as high-end, 4K home theater models priced at US$10,000 and higher are also expected to finish the year with 25 percent growth over last year.

Another key driver of growth is the versatility of projectors. Many home projectors are now hitting 3000 ANSI lumens but also offer customized adjustments to accommodate daylight or darkened viewing environments. As confirmed in PMA’s recent end-user surveys, home projectors also meet the requirements of owners and shoppers for flexible image sizes, placement locations, and projection surfaces – from permanent, fixed screens in dedicated home theater rooms, to motorized or manual, roll-down screens in living rooms and family rooms, and even to portable projection on a wall or onto a floor-standing or table-top screen.

Pico projectors and personal projectors (not included in these growth figures) are also showcasing the versatility of projectors as these compact projectors are used for both mini-home-theaters and portable business and entertainment applications.

Along with the versatility of projectors, owners and shoppers are finding increased connectivity options. While HDMI is the most popular connection, PMA’s survey indicates that wireless is a significant option for feeding content to projectors. And that’s true for current home projector owners as well as being high on the wish list for home projector shoppers.

PMA’s recent end-user surveys also confirm the growing popularity of streaming and downloading movies. Projector owners and shoppers are more likely to own a streaming device than the general population.

And despite the strong growth, PMA’s survey results indicate that educating consumers about projectors — by both manufacturers and retailers — is likely holding back more growth.

PMA doesn’t say this, but we do: projector makers, distributors and even dealers should consider more messaging that informs public about the value for money that projection brings. Rather than one company, collaborative campaigns should be explored at both industry and manufacturer’s own eco-system levels.

PMA is here.