Hybrid set-top boxes are rapidly being deployed by pay-TV operators worldwide to help them deliver advanced services and manage bandwidth scarcity in broadcast networks, according to a recent report by ABI Research. In 2010, only 40% of set-top boxes worldwide featured hybrid capabilities, with many not yet enabled by software as operators were not ready to deploy IP video services. Hybrid box penetration will rise above 60% by 2016 as operators look at IP-based video on demand (VOD) and advertising solutions, as well as interactive content.

The number of homes using the internet to watch television shows and movies on the TV screen has reached more than 42 million across the US and Europe, according to the latest research from Strategy Analytics’ Connected Home Devices (CHD) service. The report, “Multiscreen Connected TV: Assessing Device Usage and Ownership,” bases its findings on a survey of 4800 respondents.

American consumers are increasingly connected and are increasingly multitasking when it comes to multimedia.  Roughly 40 percent of tablet and smartphone owners in the U.S. used their devices daily while watching TV, while only 14 percent of eReader owners said they watched TV while using their device every day, according to a recent survey by Nielsen.

With the sluggish mature markets of North America and Europe, the focus has been on emerging regions such as Latin America which has been experiencing a major boom in the last few years.  The demand for satellite services in Latin America is only expected to grow exponentially in the next few years with the Soccer World Cup in 2014 and the  Olympics in 2016 slated to be held

As reported in my previous column, for the satellite industry the recent IBC show in Amsterdam kicked-off with a September 8th  pre-event Summit of critical importance to the industry and to the wider satellite communications end-user community – the International Satellite Industry Forum on “Interference - The Counter Offensive”. Much has happened since this Summit, and key aspects of the RFI mitigation agenda set-out in this meeting continue to be explored, explained, and actioned around the world.

CASBAA today revealed an enhanced speaker lineup for the CASBAA Convention 2011. Themed TV365: Watch Closely!, the show will be staged in Hong Kong, October 31st - November 3rd at the Grand Hyatt. “The powerful line-up drawn from networks, governments, ad agencies and media, reflects the importance of CASBAA’s role as the voice of multichannel TV in Asia”, said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO, CASBAA. “From industry leaders to key analysts, our annual Convention attracts the best of business through the exchange of essential information and innovative ideas.”

New NSR Report Forecasts EO Market to Grow to $10.5 Billion over Next Decade

NSR’s Global Satellite-Based Earth Observation, 3rd Edition, released today, indicates that last year the global Earth Observation (EO) market grew by 9% and is set to grow to $10.5 billion by 2020.  “Despite uncertainty created by the current budget crisis and financial debt of many countries, and the fact that a privately-funded EO operator recently went bankrupt, EO satellite operators have been growing their revenues lately,” said Claude Rousseau, Senior Analyst for NSR and report author.

Interference prevention and mitigation are to be addressed in the Asia-Pacific region through closer collaboration between national, regional and global satellite industry groups. The quality-assurance plans were announced during an Interference-Prevention Summit co-organised by the Interference Reduction Group (IRG), Global VSAT Forum (GVF) and Indonesian Satellite Industry Association (ASSI) in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC) conference held here on 27-29 September.

Few can argue that the traditional business of linear television is morphing. Services are changing – from HDTV to 3DTV – while platforms are multiplying to encompass Internet delivery to the computer or tablet, streaming to the handheld device, download to PVRs, and over-the-top services that embed a Web browser and Internet-delivered content into the familiar TV set. This is the subject of a new report by the World Teleport Association, Future TV and the Teleport.

The number of U.S. consumers planning to purchase a smart TV has nearly doubled in less than a year, according to new consumer research from Parks Associates. The firm's Consumer Decision Process: Summer Update reports more than 10% of broadband households plan to purchase a smart TV in the second half of 2011, up from 6% in the first half. These households, representing 50% of the nearly one-fourth of U.S.