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A digital media player is usually a device that brings online streaming services to a television. It may be a separate streaming stick or set-top box, or a streaming capability built into a TV. In technical DLNA documentation, the same term has a narrower meaning: a network control-point and client role for finding and playing media from other devices.
What does a digital media player do?
In everyday consumer-electronics usage, a digital media player (DMP) connects a TV to online media services so viewers can stream video or other content. ENERGY STAR also calls this kind of product an over-the-top (OTT) device or media streamer, and lists Roku and Apple TV as examples. The category describes a way to access services on a TV, not one particular shape of hardware. ENERGY STAR’s digital media player overview
A player may be a dedicated device connected to a television, or the TV may provide the streaming capability itself. In its IPTV terminal-device standard, ITU-T identifies both set-top boxes and TVs with embedded IPTV capability as terminal types. IPTV in that standard refers to television and video-on-demand delivered over a managed content network; it is related to, but not a universal definition of, consumer streaming players. ITU-T H.721, version 3
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Why does “digital media player” have more than one meaning?
Consumer streaming device
On product pages and in ordinary conversation, “digital media player” usually means a device or TV function used to stream services to a television. App selection and supported picture quality depend on the particular device and service.
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DLNA Digital Media Player
In DLNA and UPnP networking, DMP names a specific device role, not every product marketed as a TV streaming player. Microsoft’s glossary describes the DLNA DMP as a UPnP control point that invokes actions on UPnP devices. Microsoft’s DMP details document describes a client role that streams media from a Digital Media Server and recommends support for multiple servers. Microsoft Learn: [MS-UPMC] Glossary Microsoft Learn: [MS-DLNHND] Digital Media Player Details
That distinction matters when a manual or network setup guide uses the acronym: it may be describing how devices share files on a home network rather than naming a streaming box that runs online services.
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MediaRenderer and media formats
A UPnP MediaRenderer is another distinct network role: it renders audiovisual content received from a home network. ISO/IEC 29341-20-2:2017 defines that device type; ISO reports it was reviewed and confirmed as current in 2025. A renderer should not be confused with the DLNA DMP control-point role. ISO/IEC 29341-20-2:2017
Likewise, a supported file or streaming format is not itself a device category. MPEG’s MPEG-A overview covers multimedia application formats and standards, including music, photos, streaming, and portable video. Format compatibility answers what content a device can handle; “digital media player” describes a device or role. MPEG: MPEG-A
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How to choose a TV streaming player
If you mean a consumer streaming device, check the services and television you intend to use rather than relying on the category name alone. ENERGY STAR advises considering picture quality, app availability, additional music or photo functions, and price. It notes that some devices support 4K and that app offerings vary by device. ENERGY STAR buying guidance
- Services and apps: Confirm that the apps your household uses are available on the specific device or TV platform.
- Picture quality: Match the player’s supported resolution to the television’s capabilities. For higher-quality streaming, check that the home network connection can support the service’s requirements.
- Other functions: Decide whether music playback, photo viewing, or gaming features matter to you.
- Price and availability: Prices and product availability change. Check current listings and the manufacturer’s specifications for the model you are considering.
Energy use and historical adoption figures
ENERGY STAR’s page, accessed October 7, 2026, says an ENERGY STAR-certified digital media player is 45 percent more efficient than its comparison basis. The claim applies to certified players, not every device sold as a streaming player. ENERGY STAR also compares a traditional cable or satellite box as using about four times as much energy as a DMP, a computer 11 times as much, and a game console 15 times as much; these are the categories and comparisons stated on its page. ENERGY STAR energy comparisons
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- DUAL USB AND MICRO SD READER - Play media files from USB flash drives and USB hard drives up to 8TB, or microSD cards up to 1TB. Supports FAT/FAT32, exFAT and NTFS file systems. Compatible with wireless air mouse remotes for non-line-of-sight control so that the player can be hidden away!
- SIMPLE DIGITAL SIGNAGE - Automatic video playback with endless repeat and looping, and the ability to resume from the last stopping point. Configurable 90/180/270 degree video output rotation. Great for digital signage applications such as restaurant menu boards, lobby welcome videos, art and museum installations.
- MEDIA FORMAT SUPPORT - Videos: MKV, MP4/M4V, AVI, MOV, MPG, VOB, M2TS, TS files encoded with H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC1, up to 4096x2304, 30fps, 200mbps. Subtitles: SRT, PGS, IDX+SUB. Music: MP3, WAV, FLAC. Photos: JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG
For historical context, ENERGY STAR attributes a figure to the Consumer Technology Association’s 20th Annual CE Ownership and Market Potential Study from May 2018: 107 million U.S. households had a digital media player in 2018, a 39 percent increase from 2017. Those figures describe U.S. household ownership in 2018, not current adoption. ENERGY STAR, citing CTA’s 2018 study
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
