Connected TV penetration in North America and Western Europe will surge from just over 10% in 2011 to over 50% by 2017, according to ABI Research.

New market research from Parks Associates finds the percentages of US smart-TV owners who use this Internet-connected device to watch online video increased by over 30% in six months.

Frank N Magid Associates and Tremor Video have released the following infographic on the US connected TV market.

The global soundbar market more than doubled in size to reach 2.2 million units in 2011, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting. In 2012 demand for soundbars – a single unit that contains two or more speakers for use with the TV – is expected to grow by 54% to reach 3.4 million units.

According to reports from Gigaom, Roku is preparing for launches in both Germany and Spain.

Chuck Parker, chairman at Second Screen Society and digital media executive at Digital Video Space Consulting has blogged about the Second Screen, debating whether it is just a fad or the natural evolution of TV for an increasing technologically savvy demographic

New consumer research from Leichtman Research Group, Inc. finds that 87% of US households subscribe to some form of multi-channel video service. The percentage of households that subscribe to a multi-channel video service is similar to the past two years, and up from 80% in 2004.

Shipments of LCD TVs are now expected to grow at a slower pace in 2012 than 2011, according to the latest Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report issued by NPD DisplaySearch.

Worldwide TV shipments fell almost 8% Y/Y in Q1 2012, the steepest rate of decline since Q2 2009, with total TV shipments for the quarter at 51 million units, according to the latest release of the NPD DisplaySearch Advanced Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report.

LG Electronics and TP Vision (for Philips TVs) have established the Smart TV Alliance, with other Japanese TV manufacturers in the process of joining.