Web apps on TV to grow

Two in five pay TV households are expected to have access to web apps on their set-top boxes by 2019, according to ABI Research, double the number it estimates to have access to such services today.

According to ABI Research, operators including AT&T, Verizon, Free, Orange, and SFR are currently leading the market for applications on set-top boxes but activity in the cable and satellite markets is starting to gain momentum, particularly as more companies look to new standards like HTML5.

It cites the example of Comcast’s X1/X2 platform in the US as well as Liberty Global’s Horizon platform in Europe.

“While a number of operators garner significant media attention, a great deal of activity is happening behind the scenes in the B2B market,” said practice director, Sam Rosen.

“Companies like Accedo, ActiveVideo, Alticast, ES3, FourthWall Media, Myriad Group, TiVo, and Zodiac Interactive have partnered with numerous operators to help bring applications and interactivity to traditional pay TV services.”

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