CES 2023 wasn’t just about showing devices. THE Google took advantage of the event to announce that its ecosystem for TVs is growing at a strong pace. Together, the platforms Android TV and Google TV are already present in more than 150 million devices. This scenario is not better for the company only because of a name that seemed harmless: roku.
Google has reason to celebrate. In January 2022, its ecosystem was present on 110 million TVs around the world. Now, in January 2023, that number has reached 150 million devices. There was an increase of 40 million devices with Android TV or Google TV in just one year.
This does not mean that the Google ecosystem is present in 150 million homes. Many households have two or more TVs based on the company’s systems. Despite this, the numbers just released attest to the company’s success in the TV segment.
This happens in the midst of a great change. Google has been migrating from Android TV to Google TV. According to the website FlatpanelsHDthis transition should gain momentum in 2023 thanks to the support of brands like Philips, a strong name in TVs in Europe.
Roku also advances
Created in 2014, Roku did not seem, in its early years, to have the strength to compete with Google in the market. But the truth is that the company also registers high numbers.
Details about Roku’s presence in the market will only be released in February. But last week, the company released some information that proves its good moment in the TV market.
Roku ended 2022 with over 70 million active users. They consumed 87.4 billion hours of content over the past year. This is a 19% increase from 2021. In countries such as Canada, the United States and Mexico, Roku TV leads in streaming hours.
Anyone who thinks that these numbers were achieved only with streaming devices, like the Roku Express. Like Google, Roku’s merit lies in the partnerships that allow its system to be installed directly on numerous TV models. Among the partner brands are JVC, Philips and TCL.
Roku’s own TVs
It’s true that Google has been gradually moving TCL away from Roku. But that didn’t deter the latter. Proof of this appeared precisely at CES 2023. At the fair, the Roku Select and Plus Series TVs were announced.
Yes, we are talking about TVs developed by Roku itself. They will have between 24 and 75 inches, in addition to resolutions ranging from HD to 4K.
The expectation is that Roku TVs will be launched in the United States in the second quarter of this year, with prices between US$ 119 and US$ 999.
Surprising decision? Perhaps. But Anthony Wood, CEO of Roku, seems to be a believer in not putting all your eggs in one basket:
We generate billions of dollars a year in advertising and distribution revenue from streaming services, and we have a great platform to do that, but the core of this business is the market presence of our platform.
In short, Google should celebrate the growth of its TV ecosystem, but it needs to keep an eye on the competition.
https://tecnoblog.net/noticias/2023/01/09/google-tv-e-android-tv-crescem-mas-roku-e-uma-pedra-gigante-no-caminho/