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

US Flat-Panel TV Prices Surge in Early 2012 as Brands and Retailers Shift Strategy
May 8, 2012 – Although flat-panel TV shipments are expected to decline in the U.S. this year, the sophistication of features used in the sets is on the rise, causing a rare, sharp increase in pricing during the first four months of the year, according to iSuppli (NYSE: IHS).
News categories: iSuppli, Market Research, Smart TV, USA

Only 20% to 30% of European connected TVs are actually online
May 7, 2012 – The European Commission has presented a report on the application of its Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). The report says that although many of the TV sets sold in Europe are connectable, only 20% to 30 % are actually online.
News categories: European Commission, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Digital TV, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Market Research, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Smart TV, Spain, Streaming, Sweden, UK

Ghana Issues Free To Air DTT Receiver Minimum Requirements For Comment
May 3, 2012 – Ghana's National Communications Authority has published a draft standard for DTT receivers to ensure that all DTT receivers sold on the Ghanaian market conform to a minimum standard. The consultation expires on 25th May, 2012.
News categories: National Communications Authority, Digital TV, Ghana, Regulation, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Terrestrial

Connected TV Set Shipments Will Grow to 70 Percent during 2016
May 2, 2012 – Approximately 25% of the TV sets shipped globally in 2011 were internet-connected, a figure forecasted to approach 70% of total TV shipments during 2016, resulting in more than $117 billion in revenues, according to a new report by IMS Research.
News categories: IMS Research, Digital TV, Market Research, Smart TV, Streaming

LG Introduces Streaming Multimedia Cloud for all Three Screens
Apr 30, 2012 – LG (KSE: 066570) has announced the beta opening of its LG Cloud service with the aim of providing seamless connectivity and streaming access to all digital content across Android smartphones, PCs and smart TVs, without a separate set-top box.
News categories: LG Electronics, Apps, Smart TV, Smartphone, Streaming

Majority of TV Viewing now 'On-Demand' for 1 in 4 Brits
Apr 30, 2012 – A YouGov survey of the nation's TV habits reveals that one in four (26%) Britons now claim to spend more time watching TV through 'on-demand' services, such as BBC's iPlayer, than they do watching traditional 'linear' TV.
News categories: YouGov, Market Research, Smart TV, Streaming, UK

CrestaTech Secures $13M to Develop Smart Tuners for TV and Mobile Devices
Apr 30, 2012 – CrestaTech has announced that it has secured a $13 million round of funding. The investment will be used to accelerate development of Smart Tuner™ ICs for the fast-growing market of Smart TV devices.
News categories: CrestaTech, Semiconductor, Smart TV, Venture Capital

More than One in Five US Households Have a TV Connected to the Internet
Apr 27, 2012 – At least 21% of US households (approximately 27 million) have either an Internet-ready TV, game console, standalone Blu-ray player, and/or smart set-top box connected to their home network, says ABI Research.
News categories: ABI Research, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Gaming, Market Research, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming, USA

China will Overtake US in Connected TV Sales in 2014
Apr 26, 2012 – The global Connected flat-panel TV (FPTV) market will increase to 91 million units in 2012, according to Strategy Analytics. Strategy Analytics projects that the number of global connected FPTV households will reach 502 million by 2016.
News categories: Strategy Analytics, Brazil, China, Digital TV, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Market Research, Russia, Smart TV, Streaming, UK, USA