Smart TVs are capable of delivering video and other content via broadband, often via apps
Ofcom says sales have doubled in the past year with Smart TVs now representing a fifth of all TV sales, but notes almost half (47%) of owners said internet functionality was not a consideration for them when making their purchase.
Sixty per cent of people asked by Ofcom said that they simply chose the most up-to-date product available, while 40% said that they liked the look of the set and 32% said that they wanted the best screen.
More than a third of owners say they have never connected their TV to the internet.
Of those who have connected their TV’s, 51% of say they’ve used their set to watch catch-up TV but online activities such as social networking (25%) and shopping (13%) were much less popular.
The take-up figures appear to undermine some industry and analyst claims that the forthcoming YouView service was “too late” because Smart TVs had already met demand.
