[Updated Oct. 11, 2002] Boston, MA — (press release excerpt) — Linux is showing promising signs of becoming the platform of choice for next generation digital interactive television (ITV) client devices and services. This is according to a new research report released by Trace strategies Inc. entitled North American Linux-based Digital Interactive Television Forecast and Analysis, 2002-2006: New Rules For Success.

Among the key findings in the report, embedded Linux will comprise 12% of all digital set-top box shipments to North American television operators in 2006, compared to only 5% of set-top box shipments in 2003.

Furthermore, unit shipments of Linux-based ITV client devices is expected to experience average year-over-year growth of 70% through 2006, driven mostly by an anticipated pick-up in demand by operators in Q2 2003 for next generation client devices, including:

1. Home Gateway Media Centers
2. Digital Set-Top Boxes
3. Digital Video Recorders

The research finds that Linux is expected to become a more prevalent operating system within the digital interactive television marketplace at the expense of traditional proprietary OS vendors, due in part to its low-cost, flexibility, support for robust networking and support for various chip architectures. While in-house development currently accounts for the largest share of all Linux-based ITV, Red Hat has the largest share of commercial Linux-based ITV developments.

The competitive landscape of Linux-based ITV client devices is currently dominated by TiVo and less notably Motorola. Both companies will continue to maintain their leading market share status through 2006, despite competition from Scientific-Atlanta, Pace, Pioneer, and SONICblue.

Although the research finds there is not a large community of Linux-based ITV developers, industry efforts to design specifications for a Linux-based API for digital TV will produce developer support. In fact, an increasing number of ITV developers plan to use Linux as an alternate deployment platform and port their applications to the Linux environment following the creation of standards.

Published in October 2002, North American Linux-based Digital Interactive Television Forecast and Analysis, 2002-2006: New Rules For Success examines market trends and provides 5-year forecasts on the market support, unit penetration and development roadmap of Linux within a variety of interactive digital television embedded devices and services. The report provides a 5-year market penetration forecast of Linux-based ITV devices and services including unit shipment and installed base data. The report also compares the benefits of Linux to proprietary ITV operating systems and identifies the key economic and technical factors required for Linux to be successful in the ITV marketplace. A competitive analysis highlights the leading suppliers and developers supporting Linux-based ITV and provides market share data through 2006. The report also measures current in-house and commercial Linux development trends within the ITV marketplace and provides data about ITV developer's key technical and non-technical selection criteria of Linux and distributors.

 
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