Smart TV (Connected TV, Integrated Digital Television, IDTV) News

Freeview Play to launch in UK on Panasonic TVs next month
Sep 3, 2015 – Freeview and Digital UK have announced that the new Freeview Play connected TV service, the next generation of the UK’s biggest TV platform, will launch in October. Panasonic televisions will be the first to introduce the service.
News categories: Freeview, Digital UK, Panasonic, Guy North, Caroline Thomson, Andrew Denham, Digital TV, Middleware, Smart TV, Streaming, Terrestrial, UK

Global CE market grows thanks to Ultra HD TV and Bluetooth
Sep 2, 2015 – According to GfK, consumer electronics sales by value rose in the first six months of 2015. Innovative solutions, such as Ultra HD technology, sound bars or multi-room systems are the primary drivers of growth potential in the TV and audio segment.
News categories: GfK, Digital TV, IFABerlin, Market Research, Smart TV, Worldwide

MStar integrates NAGRA security for 4K UHD connected TVs
Sep 2, 2015 – NAGRA (SIX:KUD.S) and MStar Semiconductor have announced the integration of NAGRA’s NOCS for TV security and anyCAST CONNECT client, alongside the MStar Trusted Execution Environments (TEE), into MStar’s SoCs for 4K UHD Connected TVs.
News categories: NAGRA, MStar Semi, Maurice van Riek, Wayne Tsai, Content Protection, Digital TV, DRM, IBCShow, Media Player, Semiconductor, Smart TV, Worldwide

LG adds DIRECTV as content partner for webOS TVs
Sep 1, 2015 – LG has announced expanded U.S. content partners for its webOS Smart TV platform, including access to streaming Full HD and 4K content from DIRECTV without the need of extra boxes for DIRECTV subscribers.
News categories: LG Electronics, DIRECTV, David VanderWaal, Digital TV, Middleware, Satellite, Smart TV, USA

CEA defines 'HDR Compatible' displays
Aug 27, 2015 – The CEA has announced the industry definition for high dynamic range (HDR) compatible video displays. HDR is a new capability that promises to deliver an expansive range of brightness and shadow detail, further enhancing the viewing experience.
News categories: Consumer Electronics Association, Brian Markwalter, Digital TV, Smart TV, USA

Opera TV debuts HbbTV 2.0 SDK for TV and STB manufacturers
Aug 27, 2015 – Opera TV will soon start shipping its Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) 2.0 software development kit (SDK) to TV manufacturers and set-top-box OEMs, enabling them to get to market with HbbTV-2.0-compliant devices.
News categories: Opera TV, HbbTV Association, Frode Hernes, Klaus Illgner, Digital TV, HbbTV, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Worldwide

Half of U.S. internet homes own a connected TV device
Aug 26, 2015 – According to The NPD Group, the CE industry reached a milestone in the second quarter with half of U.S. Internet homes now owning a Connected TV device. This includes connected TVs, video game consoles, streaming media players, and Blu-ray Disc players.
News categories: NPD Group, John Buffone, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Gaming, Market Research, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming, USA

DTH driving HDTV boom in South Asia
Aug 25, 2015 – The HDTV segment in the SAARC region is expected to boom over the next three years, according to Dataxis. The company reports a steady increase in both HDTV subscribers and HDTV channels in the region.
News categories: Dataxis, Sreeja VN, Bangladesh, Cable TV, Digital TV, India, Market Research, Nepal, Pakistan, Satellite, Smart TV, Sri Lanka

24.8 million connected TV sets in the top 5 Latin American countries
Aug 24, 2015 – According to Dataxis at the end of 2014 in the five largest Latin American countries there were 78.3 million digital, 75.8 million HD-ready, 24.8 million connected and only 60,900 4K television sets installed.
News categories: Dataxis, Digital TV, Latin America, Market Research, Mobile, Smart TV