USA (United States of America) Digital TV News

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

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

Technicolor and Fraunhofer announce MPEG-H Audio licensing program
Aug 26, 2015 – Technicolor (Paris: TCH; OTCQX: TCLRY) and Fraunhofer IIS have announced the formation of a licensing program as part of the market introduction of the TV audio system developed by the MPEG-H Audio Alliance.
News categories: Technicolor, Fraunhofer, Sinclair Broadcast, Samsung, Manuele Wahl, Bernhard Grill, Mark Aitken, John Godfrey, ATSC 3, Digital TV, Licensing, Patent, USA, Worldwide

Amazon, Apple, Google, and Roku dominate streaming media device market
Aug 20, 2015 – A Parks Associates report on streaming media devices reports four brands accounted for 86% of all units sold to U.S. broadband households in 2014. The report estimates that 86 million streaming media devices will be sold globally in 2019.
News categories: Parks Associates, Barbara Kraus, Digital TV, Market Research, Set Top Box, Streaming, USA

US pay TV subscribers decline in 2Q15, but ARPU is up
Aug 20, 2015 – According to Strategy Analytics, the reversal of fortune for the digital television operators in North America continued into the second quarter of 2015, as service providers in the US and Canada posted significant subscriber losses.
News categories: Strategy Analytics, Jason Blackwell, Cable TV, Canada, Digital TV, IPTV, Satellite, Subscribers, USA

DIRECTV releases 4K Genie Mini set-top box
Aug 19, 2015 – A new set-top box from DIRECTV makes it possible for more customers to watch 4K Ultra HD (UHD) programming on nearly any 4K TV. The new 4K Genie Mini, which is about the size of a paperback book, offers full Genie and 4K capability.
News categories: DIRECTV, Henry Derovanessian, Digital TV, Satellite, Set Top Box, USA

One-quarter of U.S. pay-TV subscribers changed their service in the past year
Aug 18, 2015 – Parks Associates has announced that roughly one-fourth of pay-TV subscribers in U.S. broadband households made changes to their pay-TV service over the past 12 months, although upgrades were nearly as significant as downgrades.
News categories: Parks Associates, Brett Sappington, Digital TV, Market Research, USA

Major U.S. pay TV providers lose 470,000 subscribers in 2Q 2015
Aug 17, 2015 – Leichtman Research Group (LRG) has found that the thirteen largest pay-TV providers in the US -- about 95% of the market -- lost about 470,000 net video subscribers in 2Q 2015, compared to a loss of about 305,000 video subscribers in 2Q 2014.
News categories: Leichtman Research, Bruce Leichtman, Cable TV, Digital TV, IPTV, Market Research, Satellite, Subscribers, USA