Smart TV Owners Want Netflix and YouTube Apps

RMN Digital | July 19, 2012 | Americas, Consumer, Entertainment, Masses, Opinion, Regions, Social, Social Media, Surveys, TVs, Cameras | No Comments

Smart TV manufacturers are hoping that the popularity of apps with smartphone and tablet users makes its way to the living room.

Manufacturers and retailers are selling more and more televisions preloaded with Internet-connected functionality, referred to as Smart TVs.

This provides an environment where consumers can use apps to do anything from surfing the Internet using a fully functional web browser, to streaming their favorite movies, TV shows and music right on their TV sets.

Streaming video apps are the most popular apps for both Smart TV owners and consumers who don’t yet have a Smart TV. Three of the top five “must have” apps are Netflix (Owners 47% / Non-owners 34%), YouTube (Owners 44% / Non-owners 31%) and Amazon Instant Video (Owners 34% / Non-owners 23%), social media site Facebook (Owners 35% / Non-owners 29%) and online radio leader Pandora (Owners 28% / Non-owners 18%) round out the top five.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,634 U.S. adults (ages 18 and over) surveyed online between May 7 and May 15, 2012 by Harris Interactive. The results were announced today, July 19.

Younger adults (those 18-35) chose YouTube (Owners 57%) as their top “must have” app over the more traditional experience offered by Netflix (Owners 54%) and Amazon Instant Video (Owners 38%).

Almost three-quarters (73%) of non-Smart TV owners indicate that they are not that familiar (39%) or not at all familiar (33%) with Smart TV or Internet Connected TV, despite the fact that shipment data suggests that manufacturers are continuing to ship more and more Smart TVs.

This could be a major barrier to future purchase consideration, as only 7% of those who are not familiar with Smart TV are likely to purchase a Smart TV within the next 12 months.

Conversely, non-Smart TV owners with a greater level of familiarity are four times (4x) more likely to purchase a Smart TV, with 29% suggesting that they are likely or very likely to purchase a Smart TV within the next 12 months.

“Younger adults desire a more social TV viewing experience,” says Manny Flores, senior VP at Harris Interactive. “With the proliferation of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Google+, younger adults are not only more tech savvy, but are accustomed to being able to share their online experiences with their friends and family. So why not add TV viewing to the list of online experiences to share?”

Photo courtesy: Netflix