• by Wayne Friedman , October 12, 2012

Social media-related TV businesses will grow at a double-digit percent basis in the next five years.

One estimate from MarketsandMarkets says the entire business will rise to $256 billion by 2017 from its current $151 billion in 2012. The group says the business will expand every year by 11.2% during that five-week period.

These social TV numbers total interests from second-screen apps providers, smart TV manufacturers, content providers, middleware providers, advertising agencies and consumers.

Europe will take the biggest share -- $55 billion this year, rising to $78 billion in five years -- a compounded annual growth rate of 7%.

The research group says "the future for television is social interaction. Broadcasters are developing and enriching social TV integration; they are targeting the tune-in customer, engagement and their loyalty to boost the ratings."

Research says social TV business will be associated almost entirely with the device part of the market. The Hardware/Smart TV segment accounted for the largest share -- 97% of the overall social TV market, at $147 billion in 2012. This is expected to hit $244 billion by 2017, which is a compounded annual growth rate of 10.6% from 2012 to 2017.