Nearly 21% of US households, totalling about 27 million, have either an Internet-ready TV, game console, Blu-ray player, or smart set-top box connected to their home network, according to ABI Research.
The research revealed that the game consoles are the most-used device in the category, reaching over 80% of these connected TV households, followed by Internet TVs at 27%, Blu-ray players at 24%, and smart set-top boxes at 13%.
ABI senior analyst Michael Inouye said that game consoles got an early lead in the connectivity space when Microsoft’s Xbox 360 launched in late 2005.
"Multiplayer gaming, along with the attention devoted to features outside of gaming from all three key console manufacturers, Microsoft and Sony in particular, have helped catapult the game console to the top of the connected CE space," added Inouye. "As CE manufacturers increase the value proposition by adding new services and features to these connected devices, the connect rate will certainly climb."
This in turn will lead to an increased amount of time spent on these devices, but currently ABI Research does not anticipate a significant shift away from traditional pay-TV services, although it is possible these devices will contribute to limiting pay-TV’s growth potential.
Half of US households have at least one current generation game console, while nearly 16% have an Internet-ready TV.
The base is similar for Blu-ray players though smart set-top boxes come in at under 5%.
The research revealed that a relatively large number of consumers have not connected some of these devices to the network, most notably Internet-ready TVs.
The penetration rates are expected to exceed 60% for game consoles, TVs, and Blu-ray players by 2017, but not all of these devices will be connected to the Internet.
ABI expects growth of these devices, as only 48.5% of consumers with a home network currently have one of these devices connected to the Internet.
