Yahoo and Samsung yesterday raised their bet that television viewers want to easily link to Web sites such as Facebook without having the entire Web crammed into TV sets.
The faded Internet star and the South Korean consumer electronics giant announced they will sell Yahoo Connected TV sets in 26 more countries in Europe.
That raises to 39 the number of countries where Samsung sells television sets embedded with Yahoo software “widgets” that let users connect over the Internet to favorite Web sites.
Yahoo and Samsung launched their Connected TV partnership at a major Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas early last year.
Yahoo is building on its strategy as Google weighs into the arena with Logitech boxes or Sony televisions that merge broadcast, cable and online content.
“We don’t think people want the whole Web browser experience crammed in a TV,” said Yahoo senior director of Connect TV marketing Russ Schafer.
“It is a best-of-the-Web not all-of-the-Web comparison; which is similar to how people consume television,” Schafer said.
While cable television services typically offer hundreds of channels, research indicates that households stick with no more than 15 favorites and essentially ignore the rest, Schafer said.
Yahoo believes that similar behavior will play out on -Internet-connected televisions, with people staying faithful to online locales such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter instead of sifting through thousands of Web sites.
“Feedback tells us we have the right kind of solution,” Schafer said.
Sony, Vizio, Toshiba, and LG Electronics are among the heavyweights that make televisions embedded with Yahoo software widgets.
This year, Yahoo began making alliances with computer chip makers with a goal of getting Connected TV software built into DVD players and other entertainment content delivery devices.
Schafer said to expect a number of competitively priced Blu-ray or set-top boxes featuring Yahoo television widgets at the Consumer Electronics Show set to take place in Las Vegas in January.
Yahoo is distinguishing itself from the Internet television offerings by rivals Apple and Google.
“Apple TV, at one end of the spectrum has a very simple interface, limited offerings but deep content that is very connected to other devices in the Apple ecosystem,” Schafer said. “Google, on the other side, wants to take the PC experience in the browser and put it in the TV. We fit right in the middle.”
Mountain View, California-based Google unveiled Google TV in May in San Francisco.
Developed in partnership with Sony, Logitech and Intel, Google TV allows users to mesh television viewing with surfing the Web.
Google TV, which is powered by Google’s Android software and Chrome Web browser, can be accessed with Sony TVs or set-top boxes from Logitech that route Web content to existing TV sets.
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