Devices
Study: Internet-Connected Entertainment Adoption Rises (MESA)
Story Highlights
During just the past year, adoption of internet-connected entertainment devices is up more than 10%, with nearly 75% of all American broadband homes having at least one. That’s according to a new report from Parks Associates, which accounted for everything from smart TVs and gaming consoles, to streaming media and Blu-ray Disc players.
“Consumers continue to accumulate streaming options for homes, including smart TVs, which are on track to surpass connected gaming consoles as the primary streaming tool in the home,” said Barbara Kraus, director of research for Parks Associates. “People aren’t buying TVs solely for the smart functionality but within the standard replacement cycle, and those new TVs are likely to be smart. New owners of smart TVs will try out the smart functionality in the new TV and continue to use it if it meets expectations.”
The study notes that gaming consoles are leading the way, with 32% of broadband homes having one as their primary streaming device. Smart TVs came in second with 28%. The report also noted that 25% of broadband homes use a tablet to get online video content, and 20% use a smartphone.
“Companies such as Intel and ASUS introduced new computer sticks in 2015 as streaming devices with value-added computing capabilities, but users firmly stick with the streaming use case,” Kraus said. “Among owners of a computer stick, 60% use it for streaming, compared to only 24% who use the stick as a computer.”
The report estimates that by 2020, nearly 90 million streaming media players will be sold worldwide, and that during the first quarter of the year, U.S. smart TV ownership grew 45%.
