Audio Video News

More than one billion connected-TV devices are now in use worldwide, according to new research from U.K.-based Strategy Analytics.

Smart TVs, which account for nearly 60 percent of the total installed base of these devices, are leading the way, according to the firm’s latest quarterly report, which defines connected-TV devices as products that allow users to stream internet video to a TV and breaks them into the sub-categories smart TVs, smart Blu-ray players, game consoles, and digital media streamers.

“The popularity of connected TV devices — in particular Smart TVs and dedicated media streaming devices such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast — has grown dramatically over the last few years and has led to a fundamental shift in how consumers view and engage with content on the TV set,” said David Watkins, director of Strategy Analytics.

“Companies such as Roku have managed to build hugely successful businesses selling dedicated streaming devices on the back of this trend towards the online consumption of video in the living room.”

The report, which tracks the world’s top 18 connected-TV device vendors, puts Sony and Samsung neck-and-neck in terms of overall installed units with Samsung poised to take the lead in the second half of 2018. Amazon and LG ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, in the survey.

“Sony has long been the global leader in Connected TV devices in terms of devices installed in homes thanks not only to its strength in smart TV and Blu-ray but also as a result of its leading position in the global game console market,” explained VP David Mercer. “However, as smart TVs take an ever-growing share of the overall market, Samsung will replace Sony at the top of the device footprint rankings later this year thanks to its dominant position in the world’s smart TV market.”

Strategy Analytics expects more than 55 million digital media streamers to ship globally this year, which compares with a smart TV market that will exceed 150 million units in 2018.