According to GfK Retail and Technology in 2012 more than 50% of the TV devices sold in the German market were Smart TVs (4, 8 million).
Multimedia TV consumption grows dynamically to become a mass-market trend, according to the German TV-Platform, and a similar trend is visible in most of the European member states.
The number of devices offering internet services in addition to linear television on the TV screen is constantly increasing. The publication “White Book Hybrid-TV / Smart-TV” of German TV-Platform, offers an overview of recent developments of technology and market, and is now available in English for download.
The association seeks to give impetus to current discussions among experts at EU level.
The German TV-Platform said that smart TV devices generally include four distinct functional areas:
First, the use of interactive services offered by the TV broadcaster along its linear programme. This technology is realised with the European HbbTV standard and can be activated by the user at any time during the current TV programme by pressing the red buttons on the remote control.
Second. Use of TV-Apps offered in the media portal of device manufacturer and infrastructure provider. User are mostly able to select additional TV-Apps, and to customise the portals according to their preferences. This includes the possibility to add, reorganise and delete Apps preconfigured by the portal.
Third. Internet navigation with an internet browser.
And In addition the fourth area, the user can connect companion screens to the Smart TV screen, using those either as extended remote control or in order to realize home networking.
The German TV-Platform supports the development of interactive television since 2009 with a dedicated working group. It is also particularly committed to the ETSI standard HbbTV (Hybrid broadcast broadband TV).
The second edition of the White Book renamed “Smart TV” is now available in English on the website www.tv-plattform.de.
“The Smart TV trend is highly dynamic and brings many opportunities for the market and the consumer, at a time when the consumption of audiovisual services is subject to changes due to the availability of a large choice of content over all sorts of devices,” explains Jürgen Sewczyk, head of the Working Group and member of the Board of German TV-Platform.
“Our organisation will continue to analyse the challenges and opportunities for the audiovisual service market that of Smart TV market. We invite all interested parties to take an active part in this work.”
