Market Segmentation
The availability of on-demand TV, movies, and sports events is has gained popularity as it is instrumental in creating a high demand for at-home entertainment. Greater demand for high-end services such as video-on-demand UHD has started substantially assisting the market growth. UHD STBs provide valuable characteristics such as fine details, extended color gamut, and an immersive experience to consumers, especially while viewing sports-related content and movies. The launch of several UHD channels is leading to the large-scale adoption of Ultra HD STBs. The availability of 4K movies is further energizing the UHD STB industry prospects. 4K set-top boxes enable improved video viewing experience through better texture and a photographic emulsion of smoothness. Furthermore, ultra-high resolution and larger pixels offered through UHD content are driving the demand for UHD STBs. The advanced attributes of UHD STBs have several advantages over HD and SD set-top boxes, both in terms of features and content. Attributes, such as a broader field of view, and crisp picture & video quality, provide users with enhanced and life-like viewing experience. Sharper, deeper, and extended color range along with improved optimizations to overall picture quality creates a cinematic feel that is delivered as a primary feature by The UHD content. With several sophisticated benefits, such as superior video quality and clarity, UHD STBs are expected to gain momentum in terms of demand. Evolving consumer preferences have led to large-scale adoption of more advanced products such as 4K TVs and Smart TVs. Increasing income levels and subsequent rise in consumer purchase power are further strengthening the demand for such sophisticated products. There exists a high demand for streaming ultra-high digital TV content through the internet. Broadcasting companies, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Instant Video, and Hulu, have focused on delivering UHD content over the net owing to the skyrocketing popularity of this particular format. Additionally, the growing demand for large-screen TVs owing to a wider viewing field and advanced zooming options is driving the demand for UHD STBs worldwide.
A huge increase in the manufacturing capacity assisted by high-end technology has led to an oversupply of smart TVs. The constant downward pressure on prices from low-cost manufacturers is instrumental in driving down the prices. Furthermore, the rising competition among online retailers is also reducing the prices of smart TVs due to disproportional discounts and more. The longer the technology is around, the cheaper the products get for consumers. For instance, the price of a 32-inch flat-panel TV reached an all-time low of USD 335 during Q2 of 2014 from USD 435 two years ago. The percentage of units sold with LED-backlit screens, smart features, and 3D displays experienced a significant rise in the past few years. TVs with large screens are growing more popular as well, with 60-inch LCDs rising to 5.2% from 4.2% and 46-inch LCDs accounting for 12.2% of units sold (up from 11.8%). TV manufacturers are increasingly installing 4K into TVs throughout their product verticals. For instance, in 2016, Sharp will quadruple the number it offers and Samsung introduced nine 4K models. These wide ranges of 4K sets are available at a price range between USD 1,000 and USD 1,500 (Sharp sells its 55-inch entry-level 4K set at USD 1,200/piece). Moreover, many Chinese manufacturers are entering the market with their low-cost and technologically advanced products.
The adoption of 4K videos is expected to be stalled by high bandwidth requirements that have become instrumental for the experience. Streaming of UHD videos over the internet requires high-quality high-speed internet access and accelerated bandwidth solutions. Popular 4K streaming content providers, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu Plus, offer such content under their Video On Demand (VOD) services. Consumers require an internet connection of over 15 megabits per second, to stream 4K videos over the net. To stream UHD videos, a connection of 50 Mbps offers a viable option. However, according to the speed rankings of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), an average American connection sits around 7 Mbps, less than half of the required bandwidth needed for streaming UHD videos. The findings further suggest that only 21% of American homes have connectivity to high-speed internet.
This section will provide insights into the contents included in this 4K set-top box market report and help gain clarity on the structure of the report to assist readers in navigating smoothly.
Industry overview
Industry trends
Market drivers and restraints
Market size
Growth prospects
Porter’s analysis
PESTEL analysis
Key market opportunities prioritized
Competitive landscape
Company overview
Financial performance
Product benchmarking
Latest strategic developments
Market size, estimates, and forecast from 2018 to 2030
Market estimates and forecast for product segments up to 2030
Regional market size and forecast for product segments up to 2030
Market estimates and forecast for application segments up to 2030
Regional market size and forecast for application segments up to 2030
Company financial performance