Apps are helping to drive up the popularity of smart televisions among consumers, according to a new survey.

The Harris Interactive poll, released July 19, found that third party applications added greater appeal to smart TVs, also known as connected TVs.

In particular, three of the top five apps cited in the poll as must-haves all related to video content. The top app among all age groups was Netflix, with 47 percent of connected TV owners citing that app as the most desirable. YouTube was the second most popular app, and 34 percent said Amazon Instant Video was a must-have app. The other top most popular apps for connected TVs were for Facebook and Pandora.

"As the TV becomes a more overall entertainment device, it is only a matter of time before we see the mainstream use of additional content apps, such as Facebook, being used on the TV," Manny Flores, senior vice president at Harris Interactive, said.

The poll also found that familiarity with connected TVs among current non-owners increased a person's likelihood for buying an internet-connected television. Twenty-nine percent of responders who knew about smart TVs said they would likely purchase one over the coming year.