Adobe Flash Coming to DTVs

TV makers are increasingly adding internet features, including browsers and widgets, to their products. But until now, the standard for 80 percent of web video has not yet penetrated the television set. That's about to change, with Adobe Flash coming to TVs and set-top boxes later this year, Adobe announced this week.

If you watch videos on YouTube or any number of social networking sites, you're most likely watching Flash. So this announcement at the National Association of Broadcasters convention is a big deal, both for content producers and TV manufacturers. It could mark the start of a major growth spurt in web video viewing on TVs, potentially altering the viewing habits of millions.

Adobe acquired Flash in its acquisition of Macromedia in 2005. Flash runs on 98 percent of all computers, and 40 percent of cell phones shipped last year were Flash-enabled. However, that did not include the iPhone. Flash competitors include Microsoft's Silverlight, which CBS used to stream the NCAA last year.

See The New York Times.

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