Streaming devices taking over traditional set-top boxes

Global SourcesUpdated on 2023/12/01

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IHS estimates that streaming media devices shipped 1 million more units than traditional boxes in 2014.

Internet-connected set-top boxes are not only increasingly outselling traditional set-top boxes, but are also replacing them in some cases (Source: IHS)

According to research firm IHS, streaming devices such as Roku, Google’s Chromecast, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV are now shipping more units than traditional set-top boxes. The firm estimated that in 2014, 30 million traditional set-top boxes were shipped to retailers versus 31 million streaming media devices.

Interestingly, even though DVD and Blu-ray players along with smart TVs pack more applications into them, including many popular streaming apps like Netflix, consumers are still purchasing separate streaming devices at an ever-increasing rate. Part of the reason for this could be the tight integration many streaming devices have with smartphones.

It will also be interesting to see how this will impact the Android-based OTT market. Android currently holds a dominating lead in terms of global mobile device market share while Google has increasingly integrated its offerings as it continues to develop the OS. Features such as screen mirroring and allowing a TV to be used as a big screen for a device make Android-based OTT boxes a potentially attractive product line.

See a comparison table of selected Android-based OTT box suppliers on GlobalSources.com

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