Blog articles

  During the first quarter of 2022, Netflix recorded a net loss of 200,000 subscribers to its streaming service for the first time in over a decade; however, Netflix remains the leader in SVOD services. According to Parks Associates OTT Tracker data, Netflix maintains an estimated 67 million customers in the United States. Netflix executives claim to have 222 million paying subscribers worldwide, but estimate an additional 100 million using a shared password to gain...

IoT adoption is growing across the world. This includes not just consumer smart home device adoption, but IoT deployments in industrial and business settings. IoT sensors and devices capture data and perform tasks, communicating over IP and other protocols with cloud or local systems to create intelligent systems and enable automation. These solutions support a wide variety of use cases, enabling more functionality while saving companies money and increasing revenue opportunities....

Nearly all home device owners are interested in a unified app, according to Parks Associates latest research of 10,000 US internet households in the US regardless if the devices are attached to security systems or are single point solutions. Smart home security devices have similar value propositions as traditional security systems and may service as an alternative due to the low cost and easy DIY installation options. While security systems with professional monitoring provide...

Comcast and Charter Communications announced a 50:50 joint venture between the two cable giants to develop a streaming platform that will be available nationwide. Both companies’ broadband and cable video businesses are excluded from the partnership. Comcast will contribute streaming service Xumo, which Comcast owns, in addition to licensing its aggregated streaming platform Flex and contributing its retail business for its XClass TVs. Charter will contribute $900 million, which will be...

As the smart home industry looks to extend beyond early adopters and general tech enthusiasts, integrations and partnerships are critical for smart home products to move to mass-market adoption. As of Q4 2021, 37% of US broadband households own a smart home device and smart home device-owning households now own an average of eight devices in their home. The smart home ultimately starts at the front door, with devices like smart door locks, smart garage door openers, networked...

The gaming industry is in the midst of a transition towards greater multiplatform play and greater dependence on recurring subscription service revenue. The increasingly mobile connected consumer fuels the momentum behind mobile gaming. Consumer interest in multiplayer gaming, particularly on PC and gaming consoles, continues to be healthy. Game industry competitors are investing in growing their services revenue as consumers find subscription access to multiplayer capabilities, game...

COVID-19 has redefined the market for security and related smart home devices, with both positive and negative factors emerging in this new environment. From the very beginning of the pandemic, many people, unwilling to risk exposure to COVID-19, have avoided circumstances where an installation or repair technician would enter their home. This cramped growth for traditional security systems also heightens the willingness to acquire self-install security systems. Countering this...

Despite the proliferation of available smart home devices and services, as well as numerous escalating promotions, the adoption rate for many smart home products has remained consistent (slow and steady) over the past few years. Manufacturers and service providers are eager to understand what they must do to make significant gains in sales and revenue. Parks Associates’ research on market barriers mines consumer fears and presents strategies for addressing or alleviating their...