There are now one billion TV-centric connected devices in households worldwide – expected to exceed two billion by 2017, according to Futuresource Consulting.
The research reveals that of the 225 million TVs shipped worldwide in 2013, 44% offered smart features and this figure is expected to rise to over 80% in the next three years.
While three years ago less than 30% of people who owned a smart TV actually connected it to the Internet, the figure now sits at almost 70%, with the USA leading at a 79% connection rate.
However, despite the rise of over-the-top and connected devices, the set-top box market remains robust, which the company says is sustained by a new generation of electronic programme guide-led platforms which integrate DVR functionality with broadcast, cable and IP networks.
Last year, 220 million shipments of set-top boxes were recorded, dominated by pay-TV providers “who are upgrading to integrate IP services with broadcast content and on-demand functionality via advanced user interfaces.”
The report also looked at TV-centric media players, with games consoles proving to be most popular.
“With the recent release of Xbox One and PlayStation 4, games consoles are high volume – 31 million units worldwide in 2013 – and moving into a new cycle, though the overall market is expected to gradually contract from 2015 onwards,” said Jack Wetherill, senior market analyst at Futuresource.
“In parallel with all this, ownership of personal multimedia devices has soared from 2.8 billion in 2013, on track to reach 4.4 billion by 2017 as tablets and smartphones become ubiquitous and supplant PCs as alternative viewing platforms.”
