With a quarter of global TVs sold in 2012 Smart TVs, there are new opportunities for cloud gaming and app gaming on these connected devices.
Smart TVs get smarter
Smart TVs are sets that have integrated Internet features. In addition to traditional broadcast media, smart TVs are designed to accommodate Internet-based television, over-the-top content and streaming video.
Smart TVs have come a long way from the first models introduced a few years ago. TV manufacturers have been continuously improving the user interface and features to make them more user friendly, creating multiple and innovating ways as well to control and interact with the TV set.
Some companies, including LG, Samsung and Sony, have focused on developing their own smart TV platforms. By doing so, these manufacturers are seeking ways to differentiate themselves from the competition and to add new hardware and software features that enhance the consumer experience. Some of these features include content discovery, personalization of the home screen, recommendation engines, advanced controls—i.e., gesture, motion, and voice—and multiscreen capabilities.
Smart TV meets pay TV
One of the most promising features that can drive consumers to the purchase and use of smart TVs is partnership by a smart TV brand with pay-TV operators. Using smart TVs as a client device in a pay-TV household can help TV manufacturers distinguish their products in the marketplace, reduce customer premises equipment costs for operators and ultimately benefit consumers.
