Reliance Industries has taken a significant step by beta testing India's first homegrown smart television operating system (OS), known as Jio TV OS.
Jio TV OS is based on Google's Android platform. It will compete with established players such as Samsung's Tizen OS, LG's webOS, Skyworth's Coolita OS, and Hisense's Vidaa OS.
Reliance aims to bundle its other apps, including JioCinema, with the smart TVs running Jio TV OS. The integration of Jio broadband connections is also part of the strategy. Licensing deals and JioCinema integration are expected to drive revenue.
Jio TV OS is an open-source platform, encouraging developers to build optimized apps not only for smart TVs but also for other connected devices like smartphones.
Reliance is not charging any licensing fees, aiming to make the OS widely popular.
While large multinational companies like Samsung and LG may not adopt this OS due to their existing platforms, Reliance plans to collaborate with homegrown and smaller brands to increase adoption.
The smart TV market in India faced a 14% year-on-year decline in shipments during the January to March period. However, the segment of 55-inch and above screen size saw a 23% year-on-year growth in the same quarter. The market is expected to decline by 10% in calendar year 2024, primarily due to reduced demand for small-screen TVs.
Overall, Reliance Industries' Jio TV OS aims to disrupt India's smart TV market by offering an open-source alternative and leveraging its ecosystem of services. Keep an eye out for its official launch around Diwali.
Advertisements