A new report from media research firm TDG says that while 14% of households with a broadband internet connection surveyed owned an Apple TV, Roku box, or similar streaming platform, 25% of those households owned a smart TV that included apps, such as those offered by Samsung and LG.
Smart TV adoption grew from 12% in 2011 to 25% in 2012, while connected set top box adoption grew just two percentage points year over year. While not all Smart TV owners use the “smart” capabilities, 69% of users surveyed connected their Smart TVs to the Internet, indicating that roughly two thirds of Smart TV owners take advantage of the TV’s functionality.
With Smart TVs looking to be a growth market, it is not surprising that rumors of an Apple-built smart TV have been hanging around for years.
The rumored Apple TV, or “iTV” as some have dubbed it, has been rumored to come equipped with everything form apps, to Siri integration. The most recent rumor, surfacing in March of this year, is an “Ultra HD,” or “4K” screen with a resolution of 3840 x 2160.
Such a move by Apple is still the stuff of rumors, but with Smart TV proving more popular then set-top boxes, the climate could be right for a television set from the popular Cupertino electronic device maker.
