According to Digital TV Research, the number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 876 million by 2020, up from 105 million at end-2010 and the 415 million expected by end-2015.
The Connected TV Forecast report, which covered 51 countries, states that the proportion of TV sets connected to the Internet will rocket to 29.9% by 2020, up from only 4.5% at end-2010 and the 15.5% expected by end-2015.
By 2020, South Korea will have the highest proportion at 55%. At the other end of the scale, the proportion will be 11.4% in India.
The US will supply 184 million connected sets by 2020, up from 112 million in 2014. China will take second place in 2020 with 144 million – up from only 21 million in 2014.
“The connected TV sector has seen considerable shifts, with TV set growth revised downwards due mainly to greater competition from mobile devices,” said Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research.
The global total of connected TV sets via streaming/retail set-top boxes such as Chromecast and Apple TV will reach 207 million in 2020 (with 42 million in the US and 39 million in China), up from fewer than 4 million in 2010.
The expected 58 million total by end-2015 is up from 37 million a year earlier.