USA: nearly half of all prospective TV buyers, will likely purchase an Internet-connected TV in the next year

[CEPRO] Web-enabled TVs are rapidly gaining popularity among consumers, says the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

According to a new CEA study, 14.5 million consumers, nearly half of all prospective TV buyers, will likely purchase an Internet-connected TV in the next year.

Connected TVs, one of the major topics of CES 2009, are becoming a differentiator for TV makers. Samsung itself rolled out three lines of connected HDTVs at the show.

Parks Associates recently said 2.5 million broadband households want to purchase a connected TV. (See slideshow of 7 Connected HDTVs.)

"Consumers want more from their TV experience and marrying traditional television with Internet access is providing the next frontier of the television experience," says Shawn DuBravac, CEA economist and director of research.

Here's how consumers say they would use connected TVs:
48 percent would find out more info about upcoming shows and identify a song that played during the show
44 percent would find out more info about the actors
The top benefits of connected TVs, according to the study, are anytime-access to content and accessing the Web and TV broadcasts simultaneously.

The activities most likely to be converted from the PC to a connected TV include: watching online video (62 percent), checking the weather (59 percent) and playing online games (57 percent).

"Consumers are already using the Internet while they watch TV," says DuBravac. "The next frontier is to create a seamless experience bringing the two together."

Web-Enabled TVs Are in High Demand, CEA Finds