Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Roku 4: Which Should You Buy This Holiday Season?

"Roku continues to lead streaming media device sales in the U.S. with 34% of units sold in 2014. Google is second with 23%, and new entrant Amazon overtook Apple for third place," said Parks Associates Research Director Barbara Kraus. "The market consolidation around these four brands forces new entrants to develop more creative features and functionality to tap into the strong consumer demand for streaming content."

Three of the four companies, Amazon, Apple, and Roku have new top-tier devices for the holiday season. Google, too, has a new version of its Chromecast stick, but the $35 device can't be compared to the higher-end streaming boxes.

With these devices likely to be a popular holiday gift, here's a look at the three major players offering top-of-the-line, full-functioned boxes.

From the article "Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Roku 4: Which Should You Buy This Holiday Season?" by Daniel B. Kline.

Previously In The News

The Challenge For Smart Home Companies: Getting A Foot In The Door

But many consumers are leery. News articles questioning the privacy and security of home networks and connected devices, including always-listening smart speakers, have put off potential buyers. The s...

Cable Companies Join Netflix As Users Switch To Streaming Services

According to a report released July, Parks Associates found that 59 percent of U.S. broadband households subscribe to Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu. Netflix’s deals with pay TV companies helped it surpa...

Amazon, Google, Wal-Mart Fight For Your Smart Home

The hottest smart-home purchase this holiday season is likely to be a smart video doorbell. As many as 14% of U.S. households with broadband access say they're pretty likely to buy the device that...

Password Sharing: Charter, ESPN, Viacom Lead Crackdown On Giving Friends, Family Passwords

According to an analysis produced by Parks Associates, about one-third of internet users stream cable TV by using the login credentials of someone they don’t live with. The firm estimated that passwor...