TV makers have been quick to recognise consumer appetite for connected TVs – and their ability to act as a differentiator in a crowded market.
Rightly so as new research shows that nearly half of prospective TV buyers in the US intend to purchase an Internet-ready TV in the next year.
Now a study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has confirmed the growing interest, with 14.5 million consumers likely to purchase an Internet-connected TV in the next year.
Shawn DuBravac, CEA economist and director of research, said consumers want more from their TV experience and marrying traditional television with Internet access is providing the next frontier of the television experience.
"Consumers are already using the Internet while they watch TV," he said.
"The next frontier is to create a seamless experience bringing the two together."
Uses consumers gave for connected TVs include:
- 48 per cent would find out about upcoming shows and identify a song that played during the show
- 44 per cent would find out more about the actors
- The top benefits of connected TVs, according to the study, are anytime-access to content and accessing the Web and TV broadcasts simultaneously.
- The activities most likely to be converted from the PC to a connected TV include: watching online video (62 per cent), checking the weather (59 per cent) and playing online games (57 per cent).
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