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

Connected TVs surpass connected Blu-ray Disc players in the U.S.
Mar 2, 2015 – According to The NPD Group, ownership of Internet connected TVs is now more common than Internet connected Blu-ray Disc players, of which U.S. consumers own 20 million. Video game consoles and streaming media players, however, are still the most used TV app platforms.
News categories: Connected Intelligence, NPD Group, John Buffone, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Gaming, Market Research, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming, USA

Western Europe CE market down 2.1% in 4Q 2014
Feb 27, 2015 – According to GfK, in the fourth quarter of 2014, the Western European market for Consumer Electronics declined slightly – by 2.1 percent, compared to the same period of the previous year.
News categories: GfK, Europe, Market Research, Smart TV

M-GO VOD service to offer DTS-HD multi-channel surround sound
Feb 27, 2015 – DTS (Nasdaq: DTSI) and M-GO have announced an agreement for DTS to provide its DTS-HD multi-channel surround sound as part of M-GO's consumer experience. The audio encoding will be deployed in stages across all M-GO compatible devices over the coming months.
News categories: DTS, M-GO, Geir Skaaden, Arnaud Retureau, Digital TV, Media Player, Smart TV, Streaming, USA

Rostelecom goes multiscreen with SmartLabs
Feb 26, 2015 – Rostelecom subscribers can now enjoy their content on PCs, laptops, tablets and Smart TVs. The new multiscreen feature is an extension of Rostelecom's IPTV service, which is powered by the SmartLabs IPTV Solution, and delivers digital TV services across Russia.
News categories: SmartLabs, Rostelecom, Mikhail Grachev, Content Distribution, Digital TV, IPTV, Middleware, Mobile, Russia, Smart TV, TV Everywhere

Panasonic first with Freeview Play TVs
Feb 23, 2015 – Digital UK and Freeview have announced that Panasonic will be the first manufacturer to launch TVs featuring the Freeview Play connected TV service. Panasonic will make Freeview Play available in its new 2015 line-up of VIERA TVs.
News categories: Digital UK, Freeview, Panasonic, Ilse Howling, Guy North, Digital TV, Middleware, Smart TV, Streaming, UK

11.6 million 4k TV sets expected to have been shipped in 2014
Feb 19, 2015 – According to Futuresource Consulting, 4k TV set manufacturers are expected to ship 11.6 million units in 2014, up 699% year on year, with China accounting for over 70% of worldwide demand (Vs 84% in 2013).
News categories: Futuresource Consulting, Sarah Carroll, Digital TV, Market Research, Smart TV, Worldwide

Smart TV Alliance introduces SDK 4.0 toolkit
Feb 11, 2015 – Smart TV application developers can develop apps faster with the new Smart TV Alliance software development kit. New and updated toolkit features help developers reach the Alliance’s 58 million compatible smart TVs in a single, integrated process.
News categories: Smart TV Alliance, Digital TV, Middleware, Smart TV, Worldwide

HbbTV 2.0 specification released
Feb 10, 2015 – The HbbTV Association has announced the release of version 2.0 of the HbbTV specification. The specification is a major update adding support for companion screens and synchronisation to broadcast delivered content.
News categories: HbbTV Association, CAM, Digital TV, Europe, Middleware, Mobile, Set Top Box, Smart Home, Smart TV, Worldwide

1 in 8 Australian households now have a Smart TV
Jan 28, 2015 – 1 in 8 Australian households now have a Smart TV—almost a sixfold increase over the last four years, data from Roy Morgan Research shows. As well as Smart TVs, there are numerous other ways to give regular TVs access to internet content.
News categories: Roy Morgan, Tim Martin, Australia, Digital TV, Market Research, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming