It may seem like every HDTV now has networking features. Well, not all -- but we're getting there. According to the Q3'11 DisplaySearch Quarterly TV Design and Features Report, more than 27 percent of the TVs shipped worldwide this year will have some type of connectivity.
"The products shown at IFA Berlin this September demonstrate how networking is becoming a core feature of TVs," said Paul Gray, DisplaySearch's director of TV electronics research. "The idea of TVs and companion screens is a powerful value proposition, both for selling smart phones and tablets that communicate with the TV, but also for mobile services to be enjoyed on the best screen."
That number is expected to go up, too. Of course, there is consumer demand. Many viewers are adopting subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu Plus. However, much of the boost will have to do with manufacturers competing for your TV dollars. The more services they offer, the more enticing the TV, right? We shall see when 2015 rolls around. By that year, the number of connected TVs is expected to rise to 54 percent. That translates into about 155 million web-enabled TVs worldwide.
Integration and innovation in semiconductors is powering new capabilities, with networking emerging as an important new function.
So technology is driving some of these advancements. However, the consumer is also doing his and her part. Many consumers are opting to install a wireless network, making adding in a connected TV a lot easier. In fact, the report says that the connection rate of TVs doubles when the viewer has wireless capabilities.
"Consumer wishes are very clear -- no new wires," said Gray. "The incorporation of wireless allows more than just networking, with powerful ad-hoc functions such as transfer of photos and video from a smart phone to a TV using Wireless Direct, or a program guide to be navigated without interrupting viewing."
The DisplaySearch Quarterly TV Design and Features Report is a quarterly update of the issues and rapid shifts in TV feature developments. The report devotes over 250 pages to examining and forecasting video processor and signal processing IC market development, including 120/100 and 200/240 Hz frame rates as well as market shares for major IC vendors. Other issues covered include MPEG-4 decoding and the digital broadcast environment around the world, including a forecast for DVB-T2; TV connectivity, such as wired and wireless networked TVs; LED backlighting; 3D-capability and implementation; remote controls and chassis design; and power consumption.
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