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

Comcast’s StreamSaver bundle ups price to $18 a month

Parks Associates published its “State of Streaming” report, which revealed service bundling to be the fastest growing enticement for consumers to switch telecom services. Also interesting: Base...

5 Things to Know: November 22

A new white paper from Parks Associates, developed in partnership with Schneider Electric, highlights consumer behavior around managing energy use with smart home devices — including smart lightin...

U.S. Streaming Rides Into 2026 on Wave of Uncertainty, Says Parks Associates

The state of streaming is strong — but consumer sentiment is iffy, and new models are being deployed to fight off churn. Such is the video business described by research company Parks Associate...

Connectivity Becomes a Must-Have for Today’s Renters

Over a third of renters, 41%, expect their internet service to be activated at move-in, according to a new white paper from Parks Associates. “Achieving Turnkey Connectivity: Elevating the Tota...