What They Say
9to5Google reported that Google TV and Android TV now have over 110 million active monthly devices, up by 30 million since May. Some of those devices will be Chromecast devices which are now selling around 10 million units, annually. Google claims over 250 partners globally, 170 of them Pay TV operators, up from 140 in 2019. Google said that it is now working with 7 of the top 10 Smart TV brands, with TCL, Hisense and Sony all launching new sets at CES 2022.
TCL has also said that it is selling 10 million TVs with Android TV and Google TV, annually.
Separately, Roku has claimed to be the top SmartTV OS in terms of 2021 US TV set sales, quoting NPD’s retail tracking service. It also highlighted that Sharp is joining its customer base (Sharp connects with Roku to re-enter TV market in U.S.)
Amazon said at CES that there are 150 million active devices with its Fire TV OS.
Dataxis said that the Roku OS and Google’s Android TV have experienced the largest growth in 2020 and 2021, and the trend is expected to continue for 2022. The two biggest TV operating systems are Samsung’s Tizen and LG’s WebOS which have now been opened to other set makers. LG has already licensed WebOS to Konka and Blaupunkt (a licensed brand). (Samsung to Offer Tizen to Other TV Makers – and Digital Signage?) and (LG Expands WebOS Smart TV Platform To TV Brand Partners).
What We Think
The trend to more open platforms is interesting. I used to talk a lot about how the Apple ecosystem in the early 80s was very open and the Apple ][ dominated microcomputers. Then Apple went more closed and the IBM PC plaftorm, only open because IBM was under pressure from antitrust authorities according to some, took the market away from Apple. There are a lot of pros and cons to closed and open platforms so choices are never simple or clear for TV makers. That’s another decision I’m glad I don’t have to make! (BR)
Roku’s challenge has been to get the same penetration around the world that it has in the USA.
