Global shipments of over-the-top (OTT) STBs sold at retail (including the Apple TV, Chromecast and Roku boxes) will beat those of IPTV STBs offered by telcos for pay TV services in 2015, IHS reports.
According to the analyst 2015 OTT STB shipments will reach 31 million units, while the IPTV STB forests clocks at 30m.
“It was assumed that smart TVs, Blu-ray disc players and gaming consoles would eventually take the place of STB devices," IHS says. "However, while consumer adoption of smart devices has grown considerably, OTT STBs have still managed to flourish.”