Audio Video News

Will Tablets Kill TVs?

Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 3, 2015

Until now, strong tablet sales and weak TV sales have suggested a massive shift from TVs to tablets. But a slowdown in tablet sales may bring the two categories into a different balance.

Tablet sales are up two percent, says NPD Display-Search—but that’s less than the 14 percent previously forecast, and formerly double-digit increases are expected to turn into single-digit increases through 2018. Now that tablet sales are driven largely by replacements, will TV makers be next to feel the love? That’s debatable, especially since tablets are besieged more by the upsizing of smartphones than by smart TVs or the advent of Ultra HD. Even so, tablets are no longer the TV-killers they once appeared to be.

COMMENTS
dommyluc's picture
Submitted by dommyluc on February 4, 2015 - 7:55am

When they manufacture an 80" tablet, then we'll talk.

John Sully's picture
Submitted by John Sully on February 4, 2015 - 9:04am

Would anyone watch a program on a tablet? I've never been able to figure that out. YouTube videos, sure. A movie? You've got to be kidding.

dnoonie's picture
Submitted by dnoonie on February 6, 2015 - 6:05pm

Portable computing devices are the TV and movie viewing device of lower income people. If there's a TV in the house they may connect their portable computer to it, if the TV is also a computer they'll use it's streaming support with borrowed streaming password and borrowed broadband for viewing.

DarenG's picture
Submitted by DarenG on February 9, 2015 - 10:50am

I love my tablet. In fact, sometimes I do prefer to watch a show on the tablet. Especially, since I travel a bit. However, when I am home and want a full blown experience, there is not substitute for my big screen. I see them having two distinct uses verses one supplanting the other for all my watching usage.

vqworks's picture
Submitted by vqworks on February 13, 2015 - 9:48am

Although there is some effect on sales, due to consumers' limited financial resources and the need to pick one alternative over another, the markets are different ones that overlap. The result isn't going to be the survival of one market and death of another. The result is going to be a more fragmented one.

This has already happened in the audiophile market. Some audiophiles prefer to listen at home to vinyl and/or high resolution digital formats while others are listening to music files on the go.

But about the tablet vs. TV debate, the critical videophile will always choose the latter. The general consumer will most likely settle for the tablet. This is sad but true. Most readers of Sound & Vision will go for fillet mignon but most others will be happy with sirloin steak or 39 cent taco meat.

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