Luke Pearce - Senior Analyst Tara Patel - Research Analyst
Modern set-top boxes (STBs) exist as a primary touch point between service operators and consumers and compete for watch time with smart TV OSs and streaming media devices on primary TV sets. The STB continues to be the most consistent and frequented device to consume video, and its next evolution plays a critical role for pay-TV super aggregation by providing an elegant solution to content fragmentation.
Super aggregation is largely all about software and user experiences. MWC could see some developments regarding software, with super-aggregator-seeking service operators chasing new user experiences (UXs) that enable a seamless blend of traditional broadcast content alongside a growing lineup of partnerships with must-have leading apps and OTT services. More innovation can be anticipated in cohesive metadata management, AI-enhanced personalization, and tail-end library utilization, as well as new Android TV operator tier deployments, which continue to see strong adoption as the OS of choice.
Operators are beginning to place further emphasis on hardware, especially with growing consumer preference for voice and digital assistants to control the television. STBs are increasingly adding far-field microphones integrated into the box, experimenting with cameras for video calls and other services, and with speaker integration to offer premium audio solutions to enhance the audio side of television viewing—all adding greater value to STBs as a hub for entertainment.
The recent high-profile launches of Sky’s Glass and Comcast’s XClass operator-embedded TV sets represent extreme examples of this strategy. Vodafone Spain’s 4K Pro STB with integrated speaker and Sky Brasil’s Connect STB with integrated far-field microphones are perhaps more scalable with wider consumer appeal, owing to their STB-based approaches.
Despite MWC’s more limited focus on TV in recent years, industry stakeholders should keep an eye on video technology vendors who could yet have some surprises for us.
Source: Omdia
MWC could see a number of service providers announcing new collaborations and partnerships with live sports or SVOD providers, as they aim to launch new, refreshed, aggregated pay-TV services.
Keep an eye out for set-top box vendors, who may use MWC to release new generations of STB hardware with additional UI features like cameras, microphones, and audio equipment.
