Set-Top Box Market Trends

Market Trends of Set-Top Box Industry

IPTV to Witness Major Growth

• An IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) set-top box is a device that delivers television content via the Internet instead of traditional cable or satellite signals. It decodes and processes the digital video streams transmitted over the Internet, allowing users to watch live TV channels, on-demand videos, and other multimedia content directly on their TV sets.
• The flexibility of IPTV enables it to integrate seamlessly with other digital services, such as OTT (Over-the-Top) platforms, creating hybrid models that appeal to modern viewers. These hybrid set-top boxes, which combine IPTV and OTT services, are gaining traction as they provide a unified interface for both live TV and streaming content, catering to the growing consumer preference for on-demand viewing.
• According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (China), in 2023, China boasted 401 million IPTV users, marking an increase of approximately 20 million from 2022.
• In addition to this, TiVo's IPTV Platform stands out with its advanced video innovations. It provides a visually captivating and highly personalized video solution. The platform ensures easy integration, adaptable deployments, and scalability. It enhances the entire entertainment journey, seamlessly aggregating content across FAST, AVOD, SVOD, OTT, and live TV. This is all powered by TiVo's renowned universal search and recommendation interface. In addition, the platform boasts features like Start Over, Catch-up, and OnePass.

Asia-Pacific Expected to Witness Major Growth

• In the Asia-Pacific region, the use of set-top boxes is slowly declining as consumers shift away from traditional cable and satellite technologies, favoring IPTV and OTT services. The advent of high-speed internet and the widespread adoption of smartphones and smart TVs have driven this change, providing easier and more flexible access to content.
• With OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and local players offering on-demand viewing options, consumers find it increasingly appealing to cut the cord. This has led to a gradual reduction in the usage of DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) as well, which, although once popular for offering digital signals without a subscription, is now seen as limited compared to the vast libraries of content provided by OTT services.
• Despite this shift, some players in the market are still trying to stay relevant by introducing advanced set-top boxes that support IPTV and OTT functionalities. These hybrid boxes aim to bridge the gap between traditional TV and modern streaming, offering features like voice control, integrated apps, and support for 4K content.
• Companies like Tata Sky in India and Astro in Malaysia have embraced this hybrid approach, allowing them to cater to a broader audience and maintain their customer base.
• In June 2024, ZTE Corporation, a key provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, assisted the Pakistani operator PTCL in introducing the B866V2F Set Top Box (STB) powered by Android TV under the brand name SHOQ TV Box to transform the TV viewing experience and upgrade the news and entertainment offerings. The device offers 200 live television channels, including 60 channels in HD and 15,000 hours of on-demand content to deliver an enriched viewing experience. The B866V2F powered by Android TV is a new-generation 4K IPTV/OTT STB featuring a high-performance quad-core 64-bit chip solution to ensure efficient video stream decoding and speedy instruction processing.