Overview of smart TV market platforms, business models and solutions

Smart TV is a new and evolving television environment that makes use of the openness and interactivity of the Internet. Many of the features of traditional TV, such as one-way signal transmission, closed platform architecture, the privatization (cable and satellite TV operators build their own transmission networks) or franchising (terrestrial TV stations are granted usage rights to specific frequencies) of transmission networks, and business models where operators act as bridges between content and viewers, are all set to face unprecedented challenges as Internet and TV services are more closely integrated.

While "Internet TV" refers to the changeover from traditional broadcasting to the use of the Internet to transmit video, smart TV instead emphasizes the greater value that the openness and interactivity of the Internet brings to viewers. Besides more flexible viewing services and richer content, smart TV can also provide non-video entertainment services such as sophisticated games or participation in TV show voting activities. Even more importantly, smart TV can be used for purposes that go beyond pure entertainment, such as video calling, gaming and even home security and medical care.

However, the feasibility of these potential applications for smart TV rests on the integration of smart TV platforms with IC technology solutions. Any company that is able to secure a key position in commercial models for smart TV, or even to lead the development of such commercial models, could potentially become the dominant power in the next television revolution as smart TV gradually replaces traditional television.