Source: The Online Reporter

Two-thirds of people would now like to stream TV content wirelessly throughout their homes to tablets and other devices, and the same number would be interested in buying a smart TV, according to a survey commissioned by communications semiconductor maker Broadcom.

The survey of 1,025 consumers, conducted in November by JZ Analytics, focused on attitudes to broadband technology trends under three categories: in the home, in the car and everywhere else. It unearthed rapidly growing interest in video access from cars, with one-third of those surveyed indicating that availability of infotainment for passengers was now a major factor in vehicle purchasing decisions.

In the home, 62% of people said they would stream content they normally watch only on TV to wireless devices such as laptops, smartphones or tablets if their TV service provider offered this. Then 67% indicated they would be more likely to purchase a new HD-capable TV if it is fully connected both to the Internet and to wireless devices around the home.

Hisense launched a tablet in China this week that can send and receive programs from Hisense TV sets even when the tablet is outside the home.

Of those who own a video-capable mobile device (which is now most), one-third consume over 10 hours of content a week while traveling, and 51% consume more than five hours.

Yet despite the increasing penetration of wireless devices, they are still not that easy to configure. About 18% of people reported in the last month alone having to reconfigure a device wirelessly and finding it difficult, indicating there is plenty of scope for better automated self configuration and recovery.

The survey highlights the threats and opportunities of connected video for broadband service providers and pay TV operators.

The threat is that other providers can come in and steal their customers viewing time on mobile devices in and outside the home. The opportunity is building out from the current in-home platform and becoming the supplier of all things digital. The survey revealed that, particularly in the car, consumers want not just infotainment, but a range of other wireless services, including more intelligent navigation systems incorporating real-time traffic information and a variety of safety features involving local in-car connectivity, such as collision avoidance.

Although not revealed by this survey, there is a growing appetite for smart applications in the home such as surveillance and energy management tied in with the broadband service. In a sense, quad play becomes multiple play, and operators will have to consider how best to provide additional services well outside their core competence.