Connected TVs – defined by eMarketer as any television connected to the internet – saw usage grow 25% in the last year, according to the latest eMarketer estimates. Now nearly one-quarter of all US households have and use connected TV; this number could approach 3 in 10 by the end of 2013.
By the end of 2013, 35.1 million US households will have at least one television connected to the internet. At least one person in the household will use the internet through that TV set monthly. (This can include not only an internet-enabled smart TV, but also connections through game consoles or a set-top box.)
In the US, use of connected TVs will continue to grow by double-digit rates through at least 2016.
However, it should be noted that penetration is lower in terms of individual users: 17.4% of consumers were using connected TV at least monthly by the close of 2012, and 22.7% will do so by the end of 2013.
Many homes with connected TVs do not yet use smart TVs (sets with built-in internet connections): just 15.2 million homes had smart TVs in 2012 (out of 26.8 with ‘connected’ TVs), although eMarketer expects that will rise to 40.2 million households by 2016.
Is your TV connected yet?
