The Set-top Box: Thick or Thin Client?

This report analyzes the trend in the set-top box market related to feature-rich set-top boxes, thin-client set-top boxes, and the technologies and systems that will affect CPE devices in the future. The report assesses the feature and tradeoff decisions faced by pay-TV providers and set-top box makers in the set-top architecture. It evaluates new technologies that will impact set-top box growth and virtualization of features to the cloud or to operator networks. It also includes a forecast for set-top box growth through 2018.

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The Bottom Line

1.0 Report Summary

1.1 Purpose and Scope of Report

1.2 Data Sources

2.0 Moving Towards Change

3.0 A Change in Architecture

3.1 Motivations

3.2 Inside the Box

Master Gateway Set-top Boxes

Thin Client Boxes

4.0 Current Deployments

5.0 Technologies

5.1 Set-top Box Middleware

5.2 Virtualized Set-top Boxes

5.3 DLNA Premium Video and CVP-2

5.4 Push for the Smart Home

5.5 HEVC and DOCSIS 3.1 - Drivers for New CPE

6.0 Implications and Recommendations

7.0 Forecasts

8.0 Glossary

Index

Traditional Topology for Subscriber Home
The New Topology for Set-top Boxes
Comparison of Virtualized Options
Weekly Video Consumption by Platform – U.S. Market
Global Pay-TV Share by Technology
Spectrum of Feature Distribution for Set-top Boxes
Features Considered for the Master Gateway Set-top Box
Features of the DISH Network Hopper / Joey Set-top Boxes
Features of the DirecTV Genie DVR / Genie Mini Client Set-top Boxes
Features of the Liberty Global Horizon Set-top Box
Features of the Comcast X1 Platform
The Change in Middleware
The RDK Architecture
Hybrid and Cloud Service Set-top boxes
Global Digital Pay TV Set-top Box Forecast Methodology
Global Pay TV Set-top Box Annual Forecast (2012-2018)
Global Operator-Provided Set-top Box Annual Forecast (2012-2018)
Global Retail-Purchased Set-top Box Annual Forecast (2012-2018)
Global Unified Gateway Annual Forecast (2012-2018)

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Disclaimer
Parks Associates has made every reasonable effort to ensure that all information in this report is correct. We assume no responsibility for any inadvertent errors.

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