After a weak launch in 2017, Amazon has struck a deal with Best Buy to relaunch the Fire TV platform. Starting summer 2018, Best Buy will start selling Toshiba and Insignia Fire TV Edition Smart TVs, which will also be available on Amazon.com with Best Buy as a third party seller. This has several implications for the smart TV space, but especially for companies like Roku because Insignia was previously using the Roku TV platform and was one of the larger partners last year. For Amazon, it also represents a recognition that the brick and mortar space is still very important for some categories where consumers still prefer to "kick the tires" before purchasing.
The Analyst Team
Paul Gagnon
Senior Research Director, Consumer Devices
As the leader of the consumer electronics and display applications service area, Paul Gagnon overseas research on TVs, smartphones, mobile PCs, smart home, home appliances, desktop monitors, and professional AV displays. Paul has more than 20 years of experience within the consumer electronics industry.
His interests are the intersection of consumer electronics technology, devices, and applications. Paul is an expert on supply chain factors and their impacts on product featuring and strategy, and the likely end-market consumer response to those decisions. He is knowledgeable about display technologies and their application in consumer electronics. Paul joined Omdia, formerly IHS Markit, in 2014, after leading the TV sets research team at NPD DisplaySearch. He also has years of experience working within consumer electronics manufacturing and retailing. Paul holds a Master of Science in business analytics and a Bachelor of Science in business from San Diego State University in San Diego, California.
Paul Gray
Senior Research Manager, Home Devices
Paul Gray leads the home devices research, spanning television sets, smart home, consumer electronics, and domestic appliances. His main research area is TV sets, focusing on the European region, broadcast technology, smart TV, and new TV features. Paul is also heavily engaged in researching the development of the Ultra HD ecosystem.
He joined Omdia, formerly IHS Markit, more than 10 years ago. With more than 30 years’ experience in the TV set supply chain working for NXP and Philips in semiconductors and displays, Paul continues to research the TV set business. He has also worked on wearable and media devices and has tracked and forecast the smart TV business from its very beginning. Paul has been cited by, among others, the Financial Times, Korea Times, Korea Daily, Nikkei, and Le Monde. He has also offered expert viewpoints in online, radio, and television programming. Paul holds a degree in electrical engineering and a diploma in industrial studies.
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