LIVING ROOM LIFESTYLE
LIVING ROOM LIFESTYLE SMART TV UHD TV SOUND BARS STREAMING SOUND SYSTEMS WELLBEING TABLETS SET TO DRIVE HOME ENTERTAINMENT Credited with bringing the family back together in the living room — albeit engrossed in different content — the tablet is now challenging traditional broadcasting as the primary contentprovider. Initially used as a supplementary device to browse, shop or post online while watching TV, the tablet is now beginning to generate entertainment in its own right. Apple and Google have been quick to recognise the potential of this trend, as is demonstrated by the introduction of, respectively, the AirPlay wireless streaming technology and the Nexus Q media-streaming device. The Smart View from the Lounge Chair Built-in intelligence increasingly important as part of the living room concept As consumers gain in intelligence thanks to an ever-increasing access to information sources of all kinds (hence the “smarter” consumer), connectivity throughout the home is growing in importance. This is happening in several key areas: the living room, the kitchen and the laundry product ranges, and other brands are also following this trend”. DisplaySearch underlines the fact that a “lack of open standards, competing devices and matching content” are impairing growth of Smart TV. Nevertheless, as these issues are gradually “Over 220 million Smart TV sets will be sold worldwide in 2017” resolved, forecasts are bright. Over 220 million Smart TV sets will be sold worldwide in 2017, up from the 54 million that will be sold in 2012, according to Informa Telecoms & Media’s latest Smart- TV device forecasts. 31% of households worldwide will, say the analysts, own at least one Smart TV in five years time. Meanwhile, the growth of high fidelity home sound gear – both home cinema and streaming audio, is a major growth area in the market. Digital signal processing further enhances the sound and maximises the output of small systems. Wireless speakers are starting to use Version 4.0 Bluetooth technology with aptX Technology to enhance quality. (as well as more generally through the home with new automation and energy management concepts). In today’s edition, we take a close-up look at innovations in the home living room environment, notably in terms of home entertainment and information. A key figure that has been announced at IFA 2013 is the growth in Smart TV sales this year – forecast at a whopping 75%, while the overall market is stagnant. This is coupled with a continuing sharp rise in the sale of media tablets – up 64%. As the tablet and the TV will increasingly communicate together, the compound effect will help drive the market. Internet access via the TV is growing. According to the DisplaySearch Quarterly Smart TV Shipment and Forecast Report, “In all regions, we expect a shift towards sets with open Internet access. Samsung and LGE moved strongly with their 2012 MATURE MARKETS SLOWER ON TAKE-UP As underlined at the IFA opening press conference on 4th September, mature markets are often slower at picking-up Smart TV adoption than others. A recent survey by NPD DisplaySearch echoes the same facts, stating that 71% of connected flat panel TV owners in emerging markets report they are likely to purchase a smart TV in the next 12 months, compared to 37% in mature markets. According to the NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Smart TV Usage Study, consumers in emerging markets are twice as likely as those in mature markets to purchase an internet-enabled smart TV in the coming 12 months. 71% of consumers in Brazil, China, and other emerging markets reported they were likely to purchase a smart TV in the next 12 months, compared to just 37% of TV consumers in France, the UK, and other mature markets. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% All markets (15 countries) Mature markets (6 countries) Emerging markets (9 countries) Unlikely Neither Likely www.ifa-international.org IFA International • Friday 6 th September 2013 27
