Smart TVs Climbing in Popularity Worldwide

SANTA CLARA: Nearly 20 percent of all the televisions shipped worldwide in Q1 2012 were Smart TVs, with China at the forefront of the trend in emerging markets, according to a new report from NPD DisplaySearch.

The Quarterly Smart TV Shipment and Forecast Report reveals that 27 percent of TV sets shipped worldwide had Internet connectivity. Japan led with 46 percent of sets having networking capability, then Western Europe with 36 percent. China followed closely behind with 32 percent of sets shipped having Internet functionality.

The report indicates that nearly 20 percent were Smart TVs, the highest being in Japan with 36 percent. China was in a close second with 30 percent. In Western Europe, more than 29 percent of all TVs shipped in Q1 2012 were Smart TVs. North America was at 18 percent. In a sign of the surging popularity, all regions were over one-in-ten.

“Connected TV is largely driven by content,” said Paul Gray, the director of TV electronics research for NPD DisplaySearch. “Where there are compelling things to watch, the Internet becomes a major source of entertainment. We are now seeing a second stage of evolution as Internet video relocates from a PC screen onto the TV screen. In particular, Chinese consumers have found plenty to watch on the Internet, so Internet connectivity follows.”

While developed regions have high shipments, there’s also strong interest coming from the Middle East and Africa. “It is an interesting trend,” added Gray. ”There are countries in emerging regions where mobile broadband far outnumbers fixed lines, so consumers are looking to share mobile content on a big screen.”

By region, the largest shipments were in China, with almost 3 million Smart TVs shipped. Western Europe was second, with 2.1 million units, and North America was third, with nearly 1.4 million units shipped.