Report: Internet-ready TVs to become more mainstream

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. According to new forecasts from ABI Research, the estimated 19% of flat panel TVs shipping with Ethernet in 2010 will grow to 46% in 2013 and connectivity is expected to become a mainstream feature.

According to industry analyst Michael Inouye, new features of these Internet-connected TVs “will include media guides/browsing, Web browsing, and more tightly integrated social and information-based datasets.”

Inouye added that manufacturers will want a piece of the revenue generated from their devices. “TV makers no longer want to build ‘dumb screens,’” says Inouye.

ABI reports that the current networking solution for Internet-connected TVs, Ethernet, could soon be replaced with G.hn, HomePNA, MoCA or Powerline.

Inouye concludes, “This market is very fluid and uncertain, and with so many parties vying for a piece of the action, that fluidity may persist for years.”