Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

Sling TV streaming-video service open for business

The arrival of Sling TV could shake-up the entire pay-TV industry. Many potential cord-cutters remain pay-TV subscribers because they want sports programming. Sling TV is the first offering to include ESPN and TBS and TNT, which also have sports including the NBA.

If consumers flock to Sling TV, which doesn't have live programming from major networks such as ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS, it could weaken broadcasters' position in negotiations of fees for cable, satellite and online carriage of their signals, said Brett Sappington, director of research at consulting firm Parks Associates.

"If Sling TV is successful without broadcast channels, that could be a real wake-up call to the big broadcasters," he said.

Sling TV is designed to appeal especially to Millennials who may not want pay-TV service, CEO Roger Lynch says. While many younger adult consumers (82%) do have pay-TV service, that's lower than the 87% of older consumers who have pay TV, Parks finds.

From the article "Sling TV streaming-video service open for business" by Mike Snider.

Previously In The News

As ‘Game of Thrones’ Returns, Is Sharing Your HBO Password O.K.?

The effect on the companies’ bottom lines remains unclear, but a study by Parks Associates, a research group, found that sharing cost the streaming video industry $500 million in 2015. One reason t...

Smart thermostats are tough sell, but ComEd hopes rebates boost interest

A study released this month by Parks Associates found only 18 percent of consumers would buy a smart thermostat at $250, but offering a $100 rebate more than doubled the pool of interested buyers....

Too Much TV? Enter HBO Max, the Latest Streaming Wannabe

“People are going to look at the price point first,” said Steve Nason, research director at Parks Associates. HBO Max costs $15, same as the HBO Now streaming service it's supposed to replace, with di...

Apple earnings could offer clues on streaming performance

Consumers get a year of the streaming service for free with purchase of a new Apple device. Converting those users into paying customers might be tricky, said Steve Nason with Parks Associates....