Smart TVs

Nationwide SmithGeiger research finds next-generation ATSC 3.0 features increase consumer spending on, and accelerate purchase of, smart TVs.

WikiLeaks has published a trove of documents it says detail the inner workings of the CIA’s hacking programs — and among them is the claim that the U.S. spy agency is able to hack into Samsung smart TVs and use them as covert microphones.

The Federal Trade Commission plans to explore consumer protection issues raised by new technologies, including “smart TVs,” the agency announced. The agency has scheduled a seminar on Dec. 7 addressing questions including how much consumers understand about tracking of their TV-viewing, how the ad industry is using data about the programs people watch, and how best to protect consumers’ privacy.

Even moderately priced sets can now connect to the Internet and run Netflix and other apps — that’s the “smart” part. Yet many people are ignoring the built-in features and turning to Apple TV, Roku and other stand-alone streaming devices that often do a better job. The NPD Group estimates that roughly a third of smart TVs in the U.S.aren’t actually connected to the Internet. And researchers at Parks Associates found that even as more Americans are using smart TV functions, streaming device usage has grown even faster.

Philips uWand released a report on smart TVs this morning that shows some counter-intuitive trends. While ownership of smart TVs is on the rise since 2012, the study finds that uses like video clip viewing, gaming and Internet browsing is decreasing.

Connected TV devices continue to climb worldwide — with game consoles devices losing some steam to more installed smart TVs. Worldwide ownership of connected TV devices — smart TVs, smart Blu-ray players, IP-enabled game consoles and digital media streaming units — grew 7% in the second quarter of 2014 versus the first quarter to 500 million units, according to Strategy Analytics.

A report estimates that around 25 million smart TVs will be active in American households by the end of 2016. At that rate, they’ll dominate the entire TV market by 2017.

Internet-enabled TV devices will witness rapid growth over the next year — but a huge portion of those devices will not be online connections. U.S. homes will see a 44% rise to 202 million media devices — up from 140 million at the end of 2013, per NPD Group’s Connected Home Forecast. Home devices include connected TV, all streaming media players, Blu-Ray players and gaming consoles.

A majority of consumers aren’t interested in buying a new smart TV over the next 12 months — but advertising its strong attributes could help turn that indifference around. Some 73% of consumers have given a thumbs down to buying a new smart TV over the next 12 months, according to a survey from TV Systems Intelligence Service unit of IHS. It says “purchase intention” is just 7%.

The vast majority of consumers who use tablets also own a host of other Web-enabled devices. From laptops to game consoles to smart TVs, tablet owners overindex in tech device usage — particularly smartphones — compared to the average consumer, according to a new eMarketer report, “Tablet Users’ Multidevice Habits: Connected Morning, Noon and Night (But On Different Devices).”

Netflix, LoveFilm and connected Web video players are behind the drive, according to a new survey.

According to IHS Screen Digest, more than a quarter of all televisions shipped in 2012 had so-called “smart” Internet connectivity capabilities, and the organization projects they will account for more than half of all shipments by 2015. In total, 66 million smart TVs shipped in 2012 (up 27% from the 52 million that shipped in 2011).

The idea is to make TV watching easier and more pleasant as viewers are confronted with more and more choices — from the hundreds of live TV channels from the cable or satellite provider to online video services such as Netflix Inc., Hulu and Apple’s iTunes. A traditional remote control that lets you flip through channels one at a time suddenly seems inadequate.

Smart TVs are growing, but many of those U.S. consumer owners are not smart enough — or just not interested — in using those TV units to their fullest potential.