Consumers 'want internet-enabled TVs'

[BGonaSTICK]

Nearly two-thirds of consumers want their televisions to link to the Internet, according to research by iSuppli.

The US market researcher said consumer demand for broadband-delivered video on their TVs would propel rapid sales growth for network-enabled consumer electronics devices in coming years.

Those devices included DVD recorders, cable modems, digital TVs, digital television recorders, digital media adapters, set-top boxes and video game consoles.

Shipments of these network-equipped devices, along with consumer PCs and home network bridges and gateways, are expected to rise to 732.9m units by 2011, more than triple the 225.3m that were shipped in 2006, according to iSuppli.

"The awareness and demand for media home networking is growing rapidly among consumers," said Steve Rago, principal analyst, networking/optical communications for iSuppli. "According to iSuppli's first-quarter 2007 consumer-demand survey, 61% of respondents 'agreed' or 'strongly agreed' that they wanted the ability to network the Internet to their televisions. Male respondents were even more favourable, with a 71% 'agreed' or 'strongly agreed' response."

By 2011, Wi-Fi will be the most common network physical interface for such products, iSuppli predicts.