Internet-connected entertainment devices rose 11% since 2015, according to new market data from Parks Associates. The number of U.S. broadband households that make use of at least one Internet-connected in-home entertainment device has risen to 73% over that time period, Parks said.
Whether it’s smart TVs, gaming consoles, streaming media players, Blu-ray players or digital video recorders, the number of in-home entertainment devices installed in broadband households continues to grow, Parks highlights in a press release announcing publication of its ¨Streaming Media Devices: Trends and Innovations¨ report.
“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,” commented Parks’ Director of Research Barbara Kraus.
“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.”
Internet-Connected Entertainment Devices
With a 32% percent penetration rate, gaming consoles were the most commonly used category of connected in-home entertainment device in use in broadband households Parks found. Smart TVs (28%), streaming media players, smart Blu-ray players and DVRs followed in succession, respectively.
That said use of gaming consoles as the primary Internet streaming media device has dropped 27% in two years, Parks notes. Use of smart TVs increased 29% coincidentally.
Source: Parks Associates
In-home streaming of entertainment via mobile devices also is on the rise. Tablets are used to stream online video content in one-quarter of U.S. broadband households, according to Parks. Corresponding use of smartphones in broadband households came in at 20%.
Parks also notes that ongoing innovation and introduction of new connected in-home products is fueling growing installations and usage.
Just this week, Roku announced the launch of five new, improved streaming media players, including models that offer low-cost, higher quality streaming to a top-of-the-line 4K UHD-quality experience.
“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 pointed out. “Among owners of a computer stick, 60% use it for streaming, compared to only 24% who use the stick as a computer.”
In addition, Parks found:
- Nearly 90 million streaming media players will be sold in 2020, with the primary growth coming in Asia-Pacific for the stick form factor.
- In Q1 2016, smart TV ownership grew to 45% of all U.S. broadband households.
