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

How Many Videos Have You Watched Today?

According to Parks Associates, about 70% of Americans watch a short video on their smartphone every day. I guess I believe that, but only because I'm so not that person I'm agreeing about a lifestyle...

HBO Plans to Take On Netflix in Spain With Streaming Service

In Spain, about three-fourths of residents have high-speed Internet. About half subscribe to broadband but not pay-TV, compared with about 16 percent in the U.S., according to the research firm Parks...

Streaming Plays Nicely With Cable VOD, Netflix Is New Norm

Overall, SVOD spending in U.S. broadband homes is up nearly 67% since 2012, according to research from Parks Associates. That firm said the average monthly spend on SVOD in U.S. homes was $6.19 in 201...

Music Streaming Proving Popular For Phone Users

According to research from Parks Associates, 68% of smartphone owners listen to streaming music daily. That’s comparable to the 71% of consumers who watch short video clips on their phones daily. But...