Report: 240M Smartphone Users to Stream TV by 2014

8 May, 2012 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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About 240 million smartphone users globally will stream Internet-connected television programming by 2014, according to new data from Jupiter Research.

Hampshire, U.K.-based Jupiter cited growth in Web-enabled TV, tablet computers and TV Everywhere platforms being rolled out by pay-TV channels, cable and satellite TV distributors for the projection.

Programmers believe TV Everywhere platforms will retain and lure new subscribers from alternative subscription video-on-demand services Netflix, Amazon Prime, Google Play and Hulu Plus, among others.

The report found that the substantial growth in streamed mobile TV users would arise from a combination of both increased smartphone penetration and an increasing use of live and on-demand services both on TVs, PCs and tablets. These catch-up and live IPTV services allow users to become their own program schedulers by time-shifting content and adding a new dimension to the TV experience.

“The smartphone really allows the consumer to transport the TV experience out of the home, allowing them to view live and on-demand content while on the move,” said the report’s author, Charlotte Miller. “The ubiquity of free Wi-Fi also allows users of these services to access content without the threat of bill-shock — driving take-up of streamed mobile TV services across all WiFi-enabled mobile devices.”

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