New HDTV buyers are 50% more likely to purchase smart than 3D

TDG research suggests that new HDTV buyers are 50% more likely to purchase an Internet-connected HDTV versus a 3D HDTV. Among likely HDTV buyers, 78% are likely to buy a “smart” TV, compared to 50% who are likely to buy a 3D TV.

This reinforces TDG’s long-standing prediction that “smart” TVs will diffuse much more rapidly than 3D sets, primarily due to the advanced functionality that “smart” TVs offer, a virtue that new buyers consider particularly attractive.

“Most broadband households already own at least one HDTV,” notes Michael Greeson, Founding Partner of TDG and director of research. “When consumers think about their next purchase, HD is not the question: it’s a matter of whether the new set should feature internet connectivity or 3D, or both. As it stands today, internet connectivity remains significantly more important than 3D.”

Since 2009, TDG’s research has shown a preference among new TV buyers for internet connectivity over 3D, and diffusion rates validate these forecasts. The same is likely to continue for the next several years, as the next generation of HDTV buyers is more likely than their predecessors to prefer internet connectivity over 3D.

“Remember, 3D and net connectivity are not mutually exclusive,” says Greeson. “In fact, most 3D TVs include internet connectivity among their feature sets. The question is whether consumers will fork over the extra dollars to get 3D when most HDTVs natively feature internet connectivity. In such cases, 3D is seen as a major upgrade while net connectivity is increasingly considered to be a standard HDTV feature. This difference is not lost on new TV buyers.”