Hybrid Web-to-TV Set Top Boxes Enable Operators and Broadcasters for Internet Video Battleground

With an Internet Protocol (IP) link coming in to nearly every possible consumer electronics device with a screen, the advertising-supported television industry and pay-TV service providers are scrambling to understand the impact on their business. Hybrid Web-to-TV set top boxes (STB) will be vital tools that enable broadcasters and operators to compete with their own Internet applications and over-the-top video offerings, says In-Stat.

“When Apple began supporting ‘apps’ on their Apple iPhone, a whole new industry was created with about half a million ‘apps’ now available worldwide,” says Gerry Kaufhold, Principal Analyst. “Now, with a plethora of connected TV devices moving into the market, Internet Video is becoming the new ‘must have’ service. TV programs will eventually become ‘apps’ themselves to provide a direct-to-consumer engagement with titles, brands and advertisers.”

Some of the research findings include:

• Western Europe has become the world’s hotbed for development of hybrid applications and services with over 70 companies joining the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband initiative.
• Digital Terrestrial Hybrid STBs will more than quadruple in volume from 2010 to 2014.
• Over 2.7 million Hybrid STBs will be in use in Eastern Europe by 2014.

Recent In-Stat research Web-to-TV Hybrid Set Top Boxes in Six Regions (#IN1004674ME), provides an early warning system for the number of hybrid STBs “in use” and includes unit shipment and annual revenue data for:

• Worldwide shipments of hybrid-capable STBs in four categories.
• Detailed forecasts for hybrid cable TV, satellite TV, telcoTV (IPTV) and digital terrestrial TV set top boxes immediately put in use, by region.
• Forecasts by box type for six geographic regions: North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America and Asia/Pacific.
• Companies mentioned in the report: Project Canvas (YouView), Apple, Google, Intel Corp., Harris Corp’s Broadcast Communications Division, Sezmi TV, ActiveVideo Networks, Adobe, Microsoft, DivX, thePlatform, Comcast, Cox, Time-Warner, Rogers, GoBack TV, Arqiva, the BBC, BT, C4, Five, ITV, Talk Talk, BSkyB, Virgin Media, Metrological, United Content Distributors, DailyMedia TV, Aprico TV, Philips, Amino, Cisco Systems, Motorola, Advanced Digital Broadcast (ADB), Pace plc, Samsung, Humax, EchoStar, DISH Network, DIRECTV, Broadcom, Alcatel-Lucent, ANT plc, Cabot Communications, CapGemini, Espial, Eutelsat, SES Astra, Canal+ Group, Irdeto, NDS Group, LG Electronics, OpenTV, Rovi, Sony Corp., Vestel, C-Net, CBS Interactive, and STMicroelectronics.

For a free sample of the report and more information, please contact Elaine Potter at: epotter@in-stat.com or call 480-483-4441.