The number of televisions connected to the Internet will reach 759 million in 2018

In 2018 there will be 26.8 percent of connected televisions compared to only 5.1% at the end of 2010 and 12.4% that is expected when 2013 ends this year.

The number of televisions connected to the Internet will reach 759 million in 2018 in the 40 countries included in the report on connectivity carried out Digital TV Research.

Compared to 115 million at the end of 2010, it is expected that by the end of this year there will be 307 million connected televisions. By quota, in 2018 there would be 26.8 percent of connected televisions compared to only 5.1% at the end of 2010 and 12.4% that is expected when 2013 ends this year.

The US will have a third of connected TVs by the end of 2013, but this share will drop to 23.5 percent in 2018. China will rise from 6.6 percent of the total in 2013 to 16.4 percent in 2018.

Simon Murray, principal research analyst at Digital TV Research, highlighted that "the introduction of affordable devices such as Google's Chromecast and Sky TV's Now TV are shaking up the market, responding to the connected TV industry with a reduction in prices and an increase in competition. The introduction of the three next-generation consoles adds even more competition."

The total number of televisions connected via streaming/retail set-top boxes will reach 126 million in 2018, compared to only 4 million in 2010. The 34 million expected by the end of 2013 is double the 2012 total.

The new Wii U, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles are, for their part, good news for connected television, since they require an Internet connection for users to have full access to the games. The Internet connection also allows players to watch television shows. The number of connected game consoles will rise to 176 million in 2018, double the 2012 total.

However, the number of smart TVs installed will exceed the number of network-connected game consoles during 2013. Smart TVs will represent 34 percent of connected devices.

Finally, it should be noted that although the growth of Blu-ray is slow, these devices will be important in the expansion of connected television, with 81 million connections forecast for 2018, that is, almost double what is expected at the end of this year.