Providing Market Intelligence for 40 Years

In The News

Paid streaming for cheapskates is having a moment

“This is a lot of catalog content,” says Parks Associates entertainment research director Michael Goodman, using industry shorthand for titles making up Hollywood’s back catalogs.

“There is not one business model that fits everybody,” says Goodman. Adding ad-free streaming to its portfolio is a smart move for Roku, he argues. “You need to have multiple platforms to reach the consumer.”

If Howdy catches on, other free streamers may follow with their own paid plans, predicts Goodman. “There is potential for this to expand to other services.”

“Subscription growth at any cost — that’s not the model today,” says Goodman, alluding to the billions of dollars the industry poured into streaming a few years ago.

When services like Apple TV Plus and Peacock launched in 2019 and 2020, respectively, they bet on undercutting Netflix with deeply discounted subscription plans — only to double the costs of those plans in the following years.

Could the same eventually happen to Howdy subscribers? Goodman thinks so. “Over time, the price will rise,” he says.

From the article, "Paid streaming for cheapskates is having a moment" by Janko Roettgers

Previously In The News

Why Smart Infrastructure Is Revolutionizing Home Sales

In 2025, approximately 45% of U.S. households with internet access own at least one smart home device, with nearly 18% having six or more devices (Parks Associates, 2025). From the article, "Why Sm...

Parks: Most streamers use ad-supported products

The majority of streamers in the United States are watching at least some of their shows, movies and other videos through advertising-based products, according to a new research paper released by Park...

How Hollywood’s moving from classics to a tech-driven world

Streaming has untethered viewers from TV schedules, with 271 online video services in the U.S. catering to every niche, from horror buffs to horse enthusiasts, per Parks Associates. From the articl...

Parks Associates to share smart home device research at WiFi NOW

Parks Associates is proud to announce its partnership with WiFi NOW for the upcoming Wi-Fi World Congress USA 2025. Parks Associates’ consumer research demonstrates that smart home device adoption...