Smart TVs are becoming more of a norm now than ever before as a younger generation of Americans continues to rely more on streaming services than traditional television, according to research from Parks Associates.

More than 70 percent of broadband households across the United States now own at least one streaming entertainment product and 50 percent own a smart TV, the firm found.

Roughly 77 percent of smart TVs owned by broadband households are now connected to the internet, an uptick from only 62 percent in 2014, according to the firm which conducted a survey of roughly 10,000 respondents in 2019.

"Manufacturers have invested in improvements to the app and user experience on their smart TVs and are being rewarded with higher connection rates, which keeps the user within their ecosystem," Parks Associates Senior Analyst Kristen Hanich said.

In fact, the firm found that 72 percent of broadband households subscribe to at least one OTT streaming service.
The shift in preferences, however, provides challenges to TV makers, the analysis shows.

From the article "Internet connections to Smart TVs grow as streaming options increase" by Daniela Genovese.