Smartphone growth provides Connected TV and second screen opportunities

Nearly half of the UK now owns a smartphone. What’s interesting about the smartphone adoption rate is the pace at which it has accelerated (31 per cent in 2012). An increasing number of us are using these devices to access online content and we’re using them more often. This increase also represents an opportunity for the Connected TV market.

One of the longstanding criticisms of the Connected TV market is that these devices are often purchased and then not used to their fullest extent. Connection rates of TVs are slowly increasing although this remains an industry challenge, better consumer awareness, improved OTT content and better user interfaces are all needed. The growth of the smartphone market also presents opportunities for the Connected TV market; second screen applications can significantly enhance the Connected TV experience.

Touchscreen Smartphones are ideal for searching TV listings, scheduling recordings and managing the main TV without disrupting what’s being viewed. Live and recorded content can also be streamed to these devices as we’ve shown with our own ANT Galio Move.  

At this year’s IBC we demonstrated a range of new ANT Galio Move features that enable consumers to interact with social media and access additional associated online content such as iTunes, YouTube and Wikipedia based on what the consumer is watching. As smartphone and tablet adoption rates continue to grow so does the second screen opportunity for the connected TV Market.

Spotify moves into connected TV world with Samsung deal

Samsung announced recently that the Spotify music streaming service is now available on their smart TVs.  While Spotify already has a strong presence in the PC, tablet and smartphone markets, this is its first foray into the TV world.  So what does this mean for Spotify and for Samsung?

Both brands are very strong in their respective areas, but it’s unlikely that Spotify on its own will help Samsung to sell more TVs.  As part of an overall “connected entertainment” offering, though, Spotify is potentially a strong addition.  Exactly how strong may well depend on Spotify’s business model.

Streaming audio services on TVs are nothing new – US customers have been able to enjoy the Pandora streaming service on their TVs and set-top boxes for a couple of years already.  Given this, how will Spotify help Samsung? The most obvious answer is that Pandora is only available in the USA, so customers in Europe and elsewhere can’t use it.  Another reason is that Spotify lets you build your own playlists and select exactly which tracks to play. It seems like Spotify should have a major advantage.

As with other services that move to the TV, though, Spotify will face a challenge in building a user interface that works well on a TV screen with a TV remote.  They seem to have been successful with this on Samsung devices, but if Spotify is to become available on other TVs and set-top boxes then a lot of care needs to be taken to minimise the amount of effort needed to support a consistent user interface on many different platforms.  As services like iPlayer have found, this can be a huge challenge given the current level of market fragmentation.

The second challenge will be the business model for Spotify on connected TVs.  While the (ad-supported) PC version is free, the TV version costs £10 per month - the same price as the mobile version.  The question is therefore; how many people will be willing to pay the extra £10 a month to access this service on their TV, when other entertainment services are available for free?

UK digital TV switchover signals the end for Ceefax

The final analogue transmission in the UK took place last month. A decade into the new century, Britain’s airwaves are finally a digital domain. Ceefax was switched off as the final analogue signal was turned off in Northern Ireland.

This UK TV landmark highlights how much has changed in the 38 years since Ceefax launched. At its peak Ceefax had 20 million viewers a week and its switch-off will be greeted with some sentimental sadness. Many will fondly remember anxiously waiting for a Ceefax page to change to get the latest football scores for example.

Today’s TV user experience is very different, football updates are available instantly across multiple devices and goals are streamed straight to mobiles and tablets as soon as the football hits the back of the net. Rather than waiting for a match report after 90 minutes, sports fans have access to social media providing minute by minute updates live from grounds around the country. Consumers have the ability to tailor their service to meet their personal needs.

Connected TVs along with tablets and smartphones are undoubtedly improving the way consumers watch and interact with live sports although we’ll miss Ceefax a little bit too!

Will iPhone 5 increase multiscreen viewing in the home?

So the dust has settled on the launch of the new iPhone model. There was no great new feature that stole the headlines. It was simply more of the same that has made the iPhone so popular. With improved maps, a panoramic camera, 4G, and a new digital dock, the latest iPhone is set to be a worthy replacement for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s. But what stood out for us was the introduction of a larger screen.
The new model is getting a display larger than the traditional 3.5-inches. The screen measures 4-inches diagonally and will maximise the Retina display technology that was introduced on the iPhone 4. The new iPhone is just a little bigger than earlier models but with a width the same as the 4S.
Why has Apple done this? Well the success of the Samsung Galaxy and its bigger screen might be one reason. But perhaps Apple has picked up on the growing trend of consumers using their smart device to watch TV on.

This habit is something we’ve observed in the past, and it’s more than encouraging to see giants such as Apple developing products recognising this trend. The tablet is still maturing, but smartphones are already in most homes. As tablets become more popular, it seems larger smartphone devices are where we are headed.
This will be music to the ears of the connected TV manufacturers to see better companion devices to interact with, to highlight the functionality of their products. It’s now up to digital TV software specialists such as us to provide products, like ANT Galio Move, that will maximise this development.

ANT Galio Move shortlisted for Connected World awards

Good news! As well as being shortlisted for the CSI awards last month, ANT Galio Move has now also been shortlisted for the Connected World TV awards! We’re in the running for the ‘Best native app for a portable device’ category.  The judging will take place by a panel of experts over the next month and the winners will be announced during this year’s IBC event which runs from the 7th – 11th September.

Launched at last year’s IBC show, ANT Galio Move is an application that allows consumers to stream live and recorded TV direct to tablets and smartphones anywhere in the home. Using ANT Galio Move, viewers can watch the same programme as the main TV, stream a different channel or watch a programme previously recorded on the STB (Set-Top Box). The app connects directly to the STB meaning it can manage recordings, access additional programme information and quickly navigate through the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide), extending the capabilities of today’s STB beyond the living room. All of which can be done without disrupting the main TV experience.

It’s been really well received by the critics and we’ve spent the last 12 months in development, preparing to launch a whole range of new exciting features at IBC 2012. If you’re attending the show this year, please feel free to visit our stand to see ANT Galio Move in action.

We’re delighted with the results of ANT Galio Move’s latest features and testament to its success in the market is the fact that we’ve been shortlisted for two highly prestigious industry awards in as many months. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for the Connected World awards ceremony, but please do wish us luck!

For more information on ANT Galio Move please visit the ANT website.

ANT Galio Move shortlisted for CSI awards

We’re pleased to announce that ANT Galio Move has been shortlisted for the Cable & Satellite International awards in the ‘Best interactive TV technology or application’ category.  The judging is to take place by a panel of experts over the next month and the winners will be announced at this year’s IBC event on September 7th.

Most people now live in a connected home with 70 per cent of tablet owners and 68 per cent of smartphone owners using their devices while watching TV. ANT Galio Move uses these additional screens to complement and enhance the viewing experience.

ANT Galio Move is an application that allows viewers to stream live and recorded TV direct to tablets and smartphones anywhere in the home. The app connects directly to the TV device using a WiFi connection, meaning that the companion device is able to carry out a wide range of second-screen functions, which haven’t previously been possible. For example:

• When watching a football match, for example, you can take the game with you while you make a cup of tea, meaning you never miss a kick. Simply press the ‘Watch Here’ button on the companion device’s touch screen UI. The match will continue to play on the main TV as the rest of the family continues to watch while you can watch it in parallel on the companion device
• Perhaps you’re not interested in the football at all, and if that’s the case, simply select another channel and stream it to the companion device instead. The main TV remains unaffected and you have access to the same selection of live programmes to view on the companion device
• As well as all of the live programmes, the application can also be used to watch programmes recorded onto the STB or connected TV hard drive

Since its launch at the IBC show last year, ANT Galio Move has been extremely well received by the market. We have continued to develop the application and are looking forward to showcasing new exciting features again at IBC 2012. We’re delighted with the results and will be keeping our fingers crossed at the CSI awards ceremony.

For more information on ANT Galio Move  please visit the ANT website.