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

Konka chooses DivX HEVC for 4K TVs
Oct 15, 2014 – DivX and Konka have announced that the two companies will work together to implement DivX® HEVC Ultra HD (4K) technology across Konka’s line of 4K digital televisions.
News categories: DivX, Konka, China, Digital TV, Media Player, Smart TV, Worldwide

Thailand adds 2.8 million households to DTV voucher scheme
Oct 15, 2014 – Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has approved a plan to add 2.8 million households to those eligible for its digital TV vouchers.
News categories: National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, Takorn Tantasith, Digital TV, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Terrestrial, Thailand

33 Billion Internet Devices by 2020
Oct 14, 2014 – Nearly 12 billion internet-connected devices will be in use worldwide by the end of 2014, according to Strategy Analytics. That is equivalent to 1.7 devices for every person on the planet, a ratio which will rise to 4.3 by 2020.
News categories: Strategy Analytics, David Mercer, Digital TV, Market Research, Mobile, Smart TV, Worldwide

ViXS powers Toshiba 4K TVs with SKY PerfectTV!
Oct 6, 2014 – ViXS Systems (TSX: VXS) has announced that Toshiba's new line of Ultra HD-4K TVs, powered by the ViXS XCode 6400, will support the new SKY Perfect JSAT UHD 4K broadcast service, which has been operational since June 2014.
News categories: ViXS Systems, Toshiba, SKY Perfect JSAT, Sally Daub, Digital TV, Japan, Satellite, Semiconductor, Smart TV

Hillcrest Labs brings motion, gesture and cursor control to Skyworth smart TVs
Oct 6, 2014 – Hillcrest Labs has announced that Skyworth will use Hillcrest's motion software in a line of Smart TVs. Hillcrest's software will enable motion, gesture and cursor control of content and apps on Skyworth's Android-based TVs.
News categories: Hillcrest Labs, Skyworth, Chad Lucien, Meng Wang, Android TV, Apps, China, Digital TV, Middleware, Smart TV

Global connected TV device installed base hits half a billion units in Q2 2014
Oct 2, 2014 – Worldwide ownership of Connected TV Devices (including smart TVs, smart blu-ray players, IP-enabled game consoles and digital media streamers) grew 7 percent quarter-on-quarter in Q2 2014 to reach 500 million units according to Strategy Analytics.
News categories: Strategy Analytics, David Watkins, Eric Smith, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Gaming, Market Research, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming, Worldwide

Czech Telecommunication Office updates 'D Book' for DTT with HEVC
Sep 30, 2014 – The Czech Telecommunication Office (ČTÚ) has published an updated ‘D-Book’ specification for digital terrestrial television in the country.
News categories: Český telekomunikační úřad, Czech Republic, Digital TV, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Terrestrial

40% of broadband households in Germany and Spain own a smart TV
Sep 30, 2014 – Research from Parks Associates has shown that more than 40% of broadband households in Germany and Spain own a smart TV, while U.K. adoption of smart TVs is 33%.
News categories: Parks Associates, Brett Sappington, Digital TV, Germany, Market Research, Smart TV, Spain, Streaming, UK

MPEG LA offers HEVC patent portfolio license
Sep 29, 2014 – MPEG LA has announced the availability of the HEVC Patent Portfolio License. The joint license includes patents that are essential to the High Efficiency Video Coding standard (HEVC, also known as H.265 and MPEG-H Part 2).
News categories: MPEG LA, Larry Horn, Bill Geary, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Gaming, Licensing, Patent, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Worldwide