Adobe has secured a deal to put its Flash software into many chips that go into flatscreen TVs and set-top boxes.
Flash will be included on chips made by Broadacom, Intel, NXP and STMicroelectronics.
This will enable developers and content providers to create applications to deliver web-based content such as news, weather reports and share prices to TVs.
However, the deal does not include TVs made by Sony and Samsung, which use Yahoo's widgets.
The first sets using Adobe Flash are expected on sale next year.