Infonetics: Cable STB Sales Perk Up in 1Q14; OTT Media Servers Set to Soar in China and Emerging Markets

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Market research firm Infonetics Research released excerpts from its 1^st quarter 2014 (1Q14) Set-Top Boxes and Pay TV Subscribers report, which tracks IP, cable, satellite, and digital terrestrial (DTT) set-top boxes (STBs), and over-the-top (OTT) media servers.

ANALYST NOTE

“There was a pocket of strength in the set-top box (STB) market in the seasonally weak first quarter. North American cable operators stepped up spending again on top of successive sequential revenue increases as they transitioned higher-end multiplay subscribers to headed and headless video gateways and replaced aging, power-hungry standard-definition boxes with more efficient high-definition boxes,” says Jeff Heynen, principal analyst for broadband access and pay TV at Infonetics Research.

Heynen adds: “A boost in overall STB unit shipments this year will come from an increase in over-the-top (OTT) media servers as service providers in China and other emerging markets use these devices to deliver live streaming TV.”

SET-TOP BOX MARKET HIGHLIGHTS

• Worldwide set-top box (STB) revenue totaled $4.8 billion in 1Q14, a decline of 3% from 4Q13
• Cable STBs were the only segment to see unit and revenue growth in 1Q14, each up 5%
• Arris finished 1Q14 as the STB market share leader for the 3^rd consecutive quarter, benefitting from the high-definition (HD) cable STB refresh cycle underway at North American cable operators
• North America today commands the largest portion of STB revenue, but Asia Pacific is projected to close to within 3 percentage points by 2018, driven by a penetration of advanced services such as HD and OTT, which will set in motion an upgrade cycle
• Infonetics forecasts the OTT media server segment to grow from 6% of global STB revenue in 1Q14 to 14% by 2018

STB REPORT SYNOPSIS

Infonetics’ quarterly set-top box report provides worldwide and regional market size, vendor market share, forecasts through 2018, analysis, and trends for IP STBs; cable and satellite STBs (digital, hybrid, video gateways, media players); DTT STBs; and OTT media servers. The report also tracks telco IPTV and cable and satellite video subscribers. Vendors tracked: ADB, Apple, Arris, Changhong, Cisco, Coship, DVN, Echostar, Huawei, Humax, Jiuzhou, Kingvon, Netgem, Pace, Roku, Sagemcom, Samsung, Skyworth Digital, Technicolor, ZTE, others. To buy the report, contact Infonetics: www.infonetics.com/contact.asp.

RELATED REPORT EXCERPTS

• OTT and multiscreen TV drive spending on broadcast and streaming video equipment
• CCAP on fire, sales up 177% in 1Q14; Arris nabs lead in both CMTS and CCAP
• 802.11ac routers to make up nearly a third of WiFi-enabled router shipments by 2015
• IPTV providers planning significant uptake of set-top boxes with 802.11ac in 2015
• Emerging markets driving growth in pay-TV market
• Pay-TV operators look to ‘second screen’ apps, enhanced DVR in tug-of-war for subscribers

RECENT AND UPCOMING PAY TV AND BROADBAND RESEARCH

Download Infonetics’ 2014 market research brochure, publication calendar, events brochure, report highlights, tables of contents, and more at www.infonetics.com/login.

• IP Set-Top Box Features & Vendor Leadership: Global Service Provider Survey (May)
• Analyst Note: AT&T Adds DirecTV to its Expanding U-Verse (May)
• Broadcast & Streaming Video Equipment & Pay TV Subscribers Forecast (May)
• Broadband CPE & Subscribers: PON, FTTH, Cable, DSL & LTE Forecast (June)
• PON, FTTH & DSL Aggregation Equipment & Subscribers in Brazil Forecast (July)
• Ethernet over Coax Equipment & Subscribers Forecast (July)
• Pay TV Subscriber Database by Provider & Video Equipment Tracker (Aug.)

INFONETICS WEBINARS

Visit www.infonetics.com/infonetics-events to register for upcoming webinars, view recent webinars on demand, or learn about sponsoring a webinar.

• NFV: An Easier Initial Target Than SDN? (June 19: Attend)
• Extending Copper Access Networks with Vectoring and G.Fast (View on-demand)
• Gigabit Broadband Primer for Telcos and Cable Operators (July 10: Sponsor)
• Virtualizing Video Processing to Distribute Multiscreen TV (Aug. 26: Sponsor)

TO BUY REPORTS, CONTACT:

N. America (West), Asia Pacific: Larry Howard [e-mail] [phone]

N.A. (East, Midwest), L. America, EMEA: Scott Coyne [e-mail] [phone]

Greater China, SE Asia, India: 大中华区 Jeffrey Song [e-mail] [phone]

Japan 日本 Takashi Kimura, TAK Analytics [e-mail] [phone]

South Korea 대한민국 Doug Moon, MBAP [e-mail], [phone]

ABOUT INFONETICS

Infonetics Research (www.infonetics.com) is an international market research and consulting firm serving the communications industry since 1990. A leader in defining and tracking emerging and established technologies in all world regions, Infonetics helps clients plan, strategize, and compete effectively. View Infonetics’ About Us slides at http://bit.ly/QUrbrV.