Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

In A Connected World, Why Aren't Smart TVs Very Clever?

Turns out that smart TVs can be, well, pretty dumb. Even moderately priced sets can now connect to the Internet and run Netflix and other apps -- that's the "smart" part. Yet many people are ignoring the built-in features and turning to Apple TV, Roku and other stand-alone streaming devices that often do a better job.

In an August report, the NPD Group estimates that roughly a third of smart TVs in the U.S. weren't actually connected to the Internet. That's down from about half two years earlier, but still not good. Researchers at Parks Associates found that even as more Americans are using smart TV functions, streaming device usage has grown even faster.

"If you're a streaming media box (maker), you've got much more ability to push new features out into the market at an affordable price," says Barbara Kraus, Parks Associates' director of research. "They're very stiff competition for smart TVs."

From the article "In A Connected World, Why Aren't Smart TVs Very Clever?" by Anick Jesdanun and Ryan Nakashima.

Previously In The News

Millennials are the generation most likely to use another person's Netflix account, with 18 percent admitting to illegal streaming, survey finds

The move is expected to recoup major money for the video streaming giant: a separate report from Parks Associates found that by 2021, credentials sharing will account for $9.9 billion of losses in pay...

Smartphone Owners Like Sounds Of Streaming

According to research firm Parks Associates, smartphone owners spend more time per day listening to music on their device compared to other major entertainment activities, and 68% of smartphone owners...

SXSW: Live Streaming Is Fully 'A Thing,' HD Audio Isn't

The same can’t be said of high-definition audio -- it isn’t yet "a thing." But can it become a thing? Two years after Neil Young unveiled his hi-def iPod, the Pono, on the keynote stage of Austin's Co...

No. 1 reason we buy smart devices? They promise convenience

Smart locks and smart lights you control from your phone promise to make your life easier — and that's why most people buy them: to simplify their daily tasks. Nearly half of all consumers who purchas...