Report: Few Using Smart TVs to Full Capacity

In the battle for the living room, I’m not at all surprised by this report from NPD. Who doesn’t have a set top box, gaming console, dvd player or other device that is capable of providing additional services similar to what their televisions can offer? My TV doesn’t have any, but I definitely would be among those who never use it.

While about 60 percent of Smart TV owners are using their sets to access Over-the-Top (OTT) video services, very few are taking advantage of available apps like Twitter and Facebook, or using their TVs to browse the Web, according to NPD.

PCMag

  • Hard to compete with a $50

    Hard to compete with a $50 Roku when it does more, better.

    • babgvant wrote:

      Hard to

      [quote=babgvant]

      Hard to compete with a $50 Roku when it does more, better.

      [/quote]

      I honestly don’t understand that statement. Sure, if you don’t have a Smart TV, the Roku is the box I suggest to everyone who asks me. But why is it that comes off as if you’re knocking the apparent success (IMO) of STB integration into TVs?

      Yes, the Roku does more, that isn’t even a debate. However, the report says that 60% of Smart TVs are being used not for Twitter and other such things that I don’t even associate the Roku with, but for the video services like Netflix. But everyone seems to be treating this as bad news, or even unexpected.

      Even if the Roku supports Twitter and Facebook (I don’t know if it does or not) I’d bet no one would be using it for those things either. It’s all about the video services. That’s why you have just about any STB other than a game console.

      • SikSlayer wrote:

        I honestly

        [quote=SikSlayer]

        I honestly don’t understand that statement.

        [/quote]

        Probably because it doesn’t make any sense  :).

  • I sold TVs at a big box for a

    I sold TVs at a big box for a while and I can tell you people don’t care.  Or they think they are going to replace their PC with a “smart” tv.

    One of my coworkers at my day job has a newer Sharp TV with wifi built in.  She had no idea she could rent movies or get Twitter on it.

  • I guess I am a rarity. I use

    I guess I am a rarity. I use netflix,amazon instant, vudu and mostly plex on my built in samsung smart tv. Not having to have a box at all is a huge plus.

  • I should have added, my

    I should have added, my sister is actually one that uses them as well. She was impressed to see everything her Samsung TV had, but she definitely had no clue it had that when she bought it.

  • I don’t use any of these

    I don’t use any of these features on my PC or any other electronic device.  Why would I want to pay extra for a TV that includes them?  I’d rather pay for a quality picture than extra bells and whistles I’ll never use.