Smart TV owners’ sets now 90% web-connected

LG Smart TV

Some 90% of US smart-TV owners said that they connect their set to the internet, while 80% have used them to access OTT services like Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video, according to IHS.

The research firm’s TV Systems Intelligence Service said that 86% of Roku owners and 79% of Apple TV owners claim to use these devices to watch video from the internet.

“This shows that alternative video services are becoming more popular and relevant among US consumers,” said IHS consumer electronics and technology analyst Veronica Thayer.

Some 75% of smart TV owners were also found to own a smartphone, and 65% a tablet, creating an opportunity for secondary-screen applications, including content discovery, content sharing, mirroring and remote control functionality, said IHS.

The study also revealed that some 73% of US consumers said that they are not interested in buying a smart TV in the next 12 months.

IHS found that just 7% of consumers that were not aware of smart TVs said they intended to buy this kind of set in the next year, while more than 30% of consumers that were aware of the technology said they intended to buy a smart TV over the same time period.