Set top OS buyers are prioritizing co-viewing functionality and voice-operated smart assistants over the next 18 months, according to iWedia. The Swiss firm, whose experience spans set top hardware and software, reports that some 50% of set top professionals in the pay TV operator realm are strongly interested in smart assistants, while nearly 40% desire watch parties. The latter came to be a staple feature of pandemic viewing experiences, while the former has been table stakes in TV for several years, demonstrating the scale of operators playing catch-up. In this survey question about which capabilities pay TV operators are interested in adding to their UX, the only other two feature options – alongside smart assistants and watch parties – are…