Set Top Box Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Resolution, By Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2021-2027

The Global Set Top Box Market size is expected to reach $28.7 billion by 2027, rising at a market growth of 3.7% CAGR during the forecast period.



A set-top box (STB), also referred to as a set-top unit, is a hardware equipment which receives, deciphers and displays signals from digital television (DTV) broadcasts on a television. It is essential for digital broadcasts to be received by television viewers who have conventional television sets. Cable, satellite, and over-the-air (OTA) television systems all use it. Furthermore, a STB can include a web browser, RAM, an MPEG decoder chip, and an operating system, which coordinates access to files, programs, interfaces, and services. It can also handle more complicated tasks like video conferencing, home networking, video-on-demand, and IP telephony.

The STB market has its origins in the Table box legacy equipment, which allows a user to interact with the device via a hand-held remote control to select from a wide range of analogue television channels. As networks and service providers added more digital channels, satellite broadcast services, internet access, and other alternatives over time; the STB was introduced to the market to accommodate all of these new channels and services, which were mostly brought about by technological developments. The growth of digital consumer services has fast transformed the STB into a multipurpose device in recent years. The transmission and reception of high-quality video is now possible due to the introduction of digital television and high-definition television.

Digital transmissions of today require the use of all three major media: cable, terrestrial antenna and satellite. Each medium has its unique transmission, reception, and error-correction scheme. Previously, communication between the service provider and the STB was unidirectional, and the STB's output stage was an analogue television. It now supports historic functions while also providing a bi-directional communication channel with the service provider and generating a digital television signal for modern televisions. Controlling household appliances, using the television as a display monitor, and using a data modem to send control orders from the Set-Top Box back to the service provider are all intended functionalities of an STB. Modern digital STB devices are equipped with strong microprocessors and complex hardware in order to accomplish these enhanced functionalities.

The demand for STBs has grown dramatically and as the number of units sold has climbed and the price per unit has reduced. As a consequence, low-cost, higher-performing STBs have seen tremendous market expansion. Cable operators throughout the world have continued to place a high demand on digital cable STBs for their HD quality and interactive TV services capabilities. STBs come equipped with more silicon chips or have greater capacity silicon chips fitted to improve performance. New rivals take use of the opportunities presented by the market's diverse demands, such as supplying digital HD STBs at low prices in huge quantities.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The media industry is one of the industries undergoing a seismic shift, mostly due to the progress and integration of digital technologies following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a consequence, major businesses are focusing on implementing cutting-edge technologies to replace traditional settings. Due to being stuck at home during government mandated lockdowns, individual have turned to television for their entertainment and leisure. This reliance on television entertainment has further fueled the demand for media and entertainment services. Over the projected period, these shifting patterns are expected to fuel the rise of VoD and OTT usage and enable significant revenue creation. Due to the temporary closures of offline stores as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers' attention has switched to internet sales channels.

Market driving Factors:

Availability of a wide range of content

On-demand programming is available via pay-tv providers. On-demand requests understandably do add up to one's monthly fee. Although one can watch a greater selection of content on their smart TV with the help of a smart TV box, with significantly less complications. There are streaming servicing applications which provide its users with entertaining and exciting content. The consumer is empowered also to view all of the information on a single television screen. The viewers may also change channels without having to go through the hassle of looking for the remote every time. The best thing about a smart TV box is that a consumer may watch programming from both national and local broadcasting companies. Aside from that, users can watch content from a variety of overseas channels.

Cost-efficiency of set top boxes

In comparison to the expense of long-term Cable TV service, the cost of an Android TV box is significantly lower. When all of the functions of an Android set-top box are considered, the price difference appears to be significant. Smart TVs are causing a stir in the TV market these days as, despite being televisions, they effectively have Android capabilities. One might have gotten a great deal on a top-of-the-line TV just few years ago when costly panels didn't have smart features. So, instead of spending a lot of money on a new smart TV, anyone can just get an Android TV Box, which will give their older TV the same features as a newer and smarter Android TV. Digital video recorder (DVR) capabilities are available on cable and satellite set-top boxes, allowing consumers to watch material at their leisure.

Marketing Restraining Factor:

Smart TV Boxes Are Technologically Inferior

Smart TV set-top boxes tend to be a little slower than regular smart televisions. That's because, in comparison to a regular smart TV, cheaper Android TV boxes have smaller and slower processors, which take longer to process certain functions. Hence, customers who do not mind spending a little extra on a smart television often tend to avoid buying a regular television and equipping it with a smart set-top box. These set-top boxes are problematic not merely in terms of the quantity of energy they require, but also in terms of how that juice is used. In a recent assessment, almost all set-top boxes utilized nearly as much power while no programs were being recorded or viewed as when they were being used.

Product Outlook

Based on Product, the market is segmented into Cable, Satellite, DTT, IPTV, and OTT. Cable STBs acquired the largest revenue share in the set-top box market in 2020. Over the last decade, the cable segment has dominated the market due to widespread adoption of cable STBs in developing nations across Asia Pacific. Government has legally mandated the adoption set-top boxes in many countries. This along with the other advantages of cable TV like improved channel carrying capacity, are pushing product demand higher. The influence of cable TV among the masses have motivated cable providers to enhance their technology and service offerings.

Resolution Outlook

Based on Resolution, the market is segmented into HD & FHD, SD, 4K & Others. The 4K and above segment procured a significant revenue share of the set-top box market in 2020. This market has grown rapidly in the recent times due to an increasing demand for high-resolution content and vivid image quality. The expansion of the market is likely to be aided by a legal environment that favors the installation of set-top boxes, as well as large-scale digitization schemes being pursued in several nations. Government agencies in the United States, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), are pursuing positive efforts to encourage third-party STB producers, resulting in new growth prospects for 4K STB manufacturers. The 4K and above category is expected to grow rapidly in the Asia Pacific region, owing to the presence of multiple low-cost STB manufacturers in countries like Taiwan, China, and South Korea.

Regional Outlook

Based on Regions, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, Middle East & Africa. The Asia pacific region accounted for the largest revenue share in the set-top box market in 2020. The increased consumption of media and entertainment material, particularly among the region's expanding middle-class population, bodes well for regional market growth. The product demand is expected to be driven by rising public awareness of technologically advanced products and the benefits offered by latest devices in terms of features, quality, and reasonable pricing when compared to traditional set-top boxes. The market's growth is likely to be influenced positively by the increasing popularity of OTT media services. As part of their efforts to cement their position in the market, many established producers in Asia Pacific, such as Kaonmedia Co. Ltd. and Huawei, are rigorously prioritizing the assimilation of latest technologies, such as motion sensors, Bluetooth, and Virtual Reality (VR), into their products.

The market research report covers the analysis of key stake holders of the market. Key companies profiled in the report include LG CNS Co., Ltd., Advanced Digital Broadcast SA, Shenzhen Cozhou Electronics Co., Ltd., EchoStar Corporation, Kaonmedia Co., Ltd., Sagemcom Broadband SAS, Technicolor SA, CommScope Holding Company, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

• Nov 2021: CommScope came into a partnership with Foxtel, Australia's subscription TV provider. Under this partnership, Foxtel is expected to provide a fully managed service to develop, deploy, and design their top-notch set-top box software for iQ5 with CommScope's Professional Services organization.
• Oct 2021: CommScope launched silicon and underlying network architecture for DOCSIS 4.0, a new set of CableLabs specifications. These specifications is expected to bring multi-gigabit speeds, improved security, and low latencies to hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks. In addition, the FPGA element is expected to allow CommScope and its partners to modify the architecture as needed and effectively resolve or fix any issues that aren't known at the outset.
• Aug 2021: CommScope formed a partnership with Orange, a French multinational telecommunications corporation. Under this partnership, CommScope is expected to provide orange Slovakia consumers with the advanced generation of Android TV set-top boxes designed to receive both premium streaming services and live television. Additionally, Slovensko Orange is providing their members with innovative set-tops that improves viewing experience and provide combined streaming content.
• Aug 2021: CommScope entered into a partnership with Evoca, a revolutionary new over-the-air television service. Under this partnership, Evoca is expected to provide its consumer with the advanced generation of set-top solutions featured by Android TV with merged dual multimode ATSC 3.0 and ATSC 1.0 tuners for general customer use. Additionally, capitalizing on CommScope's expertise to design an innovative VIP7802-ATSC set-top solution allows Evoca to provide unique television and entertainment content.
• Feb 2021: LG Electronics introduced a webOS TV platform environment to other TV brand partners. Through this launch, the company introduced another producer to join the webOS TV environment, which is expected to enter a new path that allows many new TV users to experience the same great UX and features that are available on LG TVs.
• Dec 2020: Huawei introduced its foray into the cloud-based content delivery network in India. The product resources and operation are assisted by robust local talent, developed to fulfill any consumer necessity suitable for local needs which is expected to propel the Digital India initiative.
• Nov 2020: CommScope formed a partnership with Kaltura, a leading video cloud provider. In this partnership, the companies aimed to deliver a cloud TV suite to media enterprises as well as communication service providers. Together, the companies focused on providing a reliable and fast path delivering the next generation of advanced cloud TV services. Additionally, this partnership is expected to leverage CommScope's captainship as a top-tier systems alliance and Kaltura's specialty deploying its broad adopted TV Platform into legacy TV services.
• Aug 2020: Technicolor formed a partnership with Tata Sky, India's Pay TV platform with the most subscribers. Under this partnership, the companies aimed to develop Set-Top Boxes for the Indian market that is expected to be assembled and distributed within India.
• Sep 2019: Sagemcom came into a partnership with the SFR, a French mobile communications company. Together, the companies aimed to launch SFR Box 8 TV, a highly powerful set-top box that provides high-quality sound and pictures. Additionally, this partnership in connected home technologies is expected to provide media and voice combined for an extraordinary user experience.
• Oct 2017: Huawei along with Dolby Laboratories introduced the world's first set-top box for Internet Protocol television. Through this launch, Dolby's vision integrated with set-top box products allowing the consumer to access IPTV content providers to deliver content such as incredible brightness, breathtaking contrast, dramatic imaging, as well as a wide range of colors to Dolby Vision-enabled TVs.

Scope of the Study

Market Segments Covered in the Report:

By Product

• Cable
• Satellite
• DTT
• IPTV
• OTT

By Resolution

• HD & FHD
• SD
• 4K & Others

By Geography

• North America
• US
• Canada
• Mexico
• Rest of North America
• Europe
• Germany
• UK
• France
• Russia
• Spain
• Italy
• Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
• China
• Japan
• India
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Rest of Asia Pacific
• LAMEA
• Brazil
• Argentina
• UAE
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• Nigeria
• Rest of LAMEA

Key Market Players

List of Companies Profiled in the Report:

• LG CNS Co., Ltd.
• Advanced Digital Broadcast SA
• Shenzhen Cozhou Electronics Co., Ltd.
• EchoStar Corporation
• Kaonmedia Co., Ltd.
• Sagemcom Broadband SAS
• Technicolor SA
• CommScope Holding Company, Inc.
• Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

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