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

Sales Of Smart Home Devices To Explode In The Next 12 Months

New data from Parks Associates (www.parksassociates.com) finds support services are a critical part of brand strategy in the Internet of Things (IoT). According to Parks Associates' consumer research...

Two Out of Three Households Stream Music From the Internet

Regardless of who owns how much of the pie, the growing popularity of Internet streaming is changing how consumers are listening to music. “Wireless speakers, multiroom audio systems, and soundbars co...

With Connected TVs Increasing, Cable Must Adapt

Parks Associates has found that 45 percent of Western European households equipped with broadband own a smart TV. Widespread adoption of the connected TV model fits the narrative of evolving, smarter...

Two Thirds Of U.S. Broadband Households Use A Streaming Audio

"Consumers have shown plenty of interest in streaming audio and music services, but most consumers have opted for free accounts. Music service providers have built a model around converting free users...