Connected TV penetration in Western Europe and North America is expected to grow to over 50% by 2017, says ABI Research.
Combined with a similar progression in Blu-ray deployments increasing from about 25% in Western Europe and North America in 2011 to over 76% by 2017, these are expected to overtake the current game console penetration figures.
Game console penetration rates are only expected to pass 61% and 46% in North America and Western Europe respectively, with rates significantly lower in other regions.
“Most CE manufacturers (notably, Samsung and LG) use a common platform for Connected TVs and Blu-ray players. Microsoft and Nintendo play only in the game console market, while Smart STB leaders Apple and Roku don’t compete in the other connected categories,” explained ABI senior analyst Michael Inouye. “Sony is unique is its participation in game consoles (PS3), connected TVs, Blu-ray players, and Smart STBs. In the TV and Blu-ray space Samsung and LG have been the most proactive at bringing connected features – for example, introducing new user interfaces that parallel the features first made popular by the game consoles.”
The growth is boosted by Chinese OEM manufacturers such as Skyworth and TCL, which are also growing connected TV shipments.
