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“Costs for content producers and networks continue to rise faster than the general inflation rate,” said Brett Sappington, senior director of research, Parks Associates, in an e-mail interview. “As long as that happens, they will face pressure to increase the amounts that they need from their distributors to cover those costs.”

He noted that online services--often called “over-the-top” services because of how they arrive on another company’s broadband connection--themselves ...read more

About 9.4 million U.S. homes, or 7.4% of the total, are equipped with Wi-Fi enabled cameras and mics, says Brad Russell, research director for Parks Associates, a consumer technology research firm. As many as 11 million or so have similar but more limited set-ups trained on the doorstep or outside the house, or embedded in a light fixture, Russell says. That means up to 13% of homes have at least one Wi-Fi camera and mic. The cameras often are visible but can be hidden in stuffe ...read more

Among those services, Netflix is the clear leader, with Amazon and Hulu next, according to a recent survey from Parks Associates.

Deloitte found a concurrent "inflection point" for providers of traditional pay TV service delivered via cable, satellite and fiber. Pay TV use fell to 63% in 2017 from 75%, the survey found.

And among those who no longer had pay TV, 27% said they had "cut the cord" within the past year.

From the article "Tipping point: Video streamers are ...read more

Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and MLB.tv are winning the cord-cutting wars, but HBO is making a move as viewers choose from a bonanza of niche streaming services.

The top four places are unchanged in a ranking of subscription video services delivered over broadband, according to the OTT Video Market Tracker Top 10, from research firm Parks Associates.

That means new and fledgling streaming video services will have to try harder to build and maintain a subscriber base, says Brett ...read more

Netflix — in nearly half of U.S. broadband homes, according to Parks Associates — has angered customers with past price hikes. Six years ago, Netflix lost 800,000 U.S. subscribers when it raised the prices for its plan offering streaming video and DVD rentals from $9.99 to $15.98. 

From the article "Netflix price hike probably not the last for cord cutters" by Mike Snider.

“Content is a difficult enough business to turn a profit, but Amazon’s key advantage is that its business is so incredibly diverse. From Amazon Studios to Amazon Web Services to its retail operations, any division can make a profit that raises all of the other divisions. For Amazon, the tide indeed does raise all ships,” said Glenn Hower, a senior research analyst with Parks Associates.

From the article "Why Amazon is spending so much to rival Netflix" by Elizabeth Weise.

Almost nine of 10 U.S. households have a smartphone, and more than one-third use Wi-Fi calling to stay in touch, according to research by Parks Associates. "To many travelers, including my teenage daughter, the three life essentials are food, water and Wi-Fi," says Harry Wang, a senior research director at Parks Associates.

From the article "Best Wi-Fi Options For Travelers" by Christopher Elliott.

About 35.2 million broadband homes -- or 36% of homes with broadband service -- own a streaming media player, up from 27% in 2014, Parks estimates. About 12.7 million bought one in 2015, Parks estimates.

 “Device makers have successfully sold streaming media players to consumers by offering easy access to a variety of content streams, as well as frequent updates that add the latest innovation," said Barbara Kraus, Parks' director of research. "Amazon in particular has benefi ...read more