Internet TV Could Boom in the Next Few Years

Internet-enabled TV sets could see wider adoption in the next few years as viewers get comfortable with the idea of running widgets on TV screens, according to a study released by Ernst & Young on Thursday. Widgets -- or mini-applications -- are already being used in devices like mobile phones and computers to run light applications, and those applications could reach TV sets, the analyst firm said in the study. TV widgets are designed to pull selective content from the Internet to complement TV watching. For example, users can view weather information on TV or buy products advertised on TV from online stores. Many consumers consider it an "appealing" idea to mesh TV with information from the Internet, according to the study. Web-connected TV shipments could total less than 500,000 in 2009, but top 6 million by 2013, E&Y said in the study, citing statistics from Parks Associates. Widgets could also be the glue that brings together Internet and TV content. Broadcast TV is already competing with the Web for viewership, and widgets could facilitate content searches through both mediums, giving more entertainment options to viewers.