"smart TV" articles

Parks Associates revealed the Q3 2021 top ten subscription over-the-top (OTT) video services based on number of subscribers, with Netflix as the reigning top subscriber service and Disney+ moving into the top three, pulling ahead of Hulu in number of subscribers. This is the first change in the top three services since the firm started tracking these OTT providers in 2015. “While the Disney+ content portfolio may have allowed it to leapfrog stablemate Hulu in 2021 rankings, its...

Throughout 2020, the United States’ broadband coverage gap was recognized as a major issue impacting Americans’ safety, quality of life, and ability to participate in work and schooling. According to Parks Associates estimates: ·       22% of US households, or roughly 27M households, lack a fixed home internet subscription; ·       10% of US households, or almost 13M households, are mobile-only –...

The news of impending smart TVs from two very different ends of the video spectrum – Amazon and Comcast - is indicative of the rapid changes that have taken place in video consumption and delivery over the past few years, and where the market is now headed. The balance of power in the US video environment has evolved, along with the nature of video consumption by consumers – including how, what, and where they watch video. Parks Associates’ Q1 2021 consumer data...

Cloud gaming, the streaming of cloud-hosted games over the internet, is an idea that is not new, but has yet to really gain mainstream traction. In years past, there were any number of showstopper issues that compromised the experience for consumers, from developer support to performance lag to platform support, content availability and more. There are clear signs that 2021 is a watershed year for the growing momentum behind cloud gaming – and these moves are coming from titans in the...

Earlier in the year, the original iPhone celebrated its 14 th anniversary.  Steve Jobs, Apple’s then CEO, took the stage at Macworld and amazed the globe with a product that literally changed how we communicate, work, and enjoy video and music content.  One could also argue that the iPhone (and the smartphone category in general) ultimately enabled social media apps to ascend to the level of popularity they currently enjoy.  In short, it’s evolved into a device that...

In early April, LG announced it would be shutting down its long-struggling smartphone business by July 31 st , 2021. The move did not exactly come as a surprise; LG’s mobile division had been running at a loss for 23 consecutive quarters, the company had hinted at hard decisions ahead for its mobile division, and rumors have swirled about the company being unsuccessful at attempts to find a buyer for the unit. Nonetheless, the move marks a significant exit by a major brand - and is a...

Recent Parks Associates data finds more than 50% of US broadband households own at least one smart TV and the company’s earlier research found 77% of smart TVs among US broadband households are now connected to the internet. New product announcements from top smart TV brands at last week’s CES 2021 reveal that while 4K TV is still popular, these brands are also focused on new technologies and improved smart TV features that will push the smart TV to the front of the in-home video...

In a year unlike any other, CES 2021 similarly proceeded unlike any CES before it, with the virtual event bringing the show to arguably its broadest audience yet. One aspect of the show that remained similar to previous years was the high-profile prominence of the latest and greatest television announcements from CE industry leaders. In contrast to years past however, CES 2021 saw the traditional TV market leaders redoubling their efforts to differentiate their sets in the face of...