Consumer Reports

If you're just getting started with free, over-the-air TV, you're in good company. Even many consumers who have switched to streaming video services, such as DirecTV Now or Sling TV, use an antenna for local stations not included with their package. In fact, 1 in 5 U.S. households with broadband internet now use one, according to market research firm Parks Associates.

From the article "Antenna Users: Rescan to Keep Getting Free TV" by James K. Willcox.

Cord cutters are buying antennas to save money by cutting their monthly pay-TV services—and they’re doing it in large numbers. New consumer research from Parks Associates shows that the percentage of U.S. broadband households that use digital antennas in their home has steadily increased to reach 20 percent near the end of 2017, up from 16 percent in early 2015. This increase, the firm says, coincides with a steady decline in pay-TV subscriptions and an increase in over-the-top ...read more

Market research firm Parks Associates says that one-fifth of U.S. homes with broadband access now use an antenna to get live TV. “Digital antennas are experiencing a resurgence as consumers consider over-the-air TV and OTT [over-the-top] video services as alternatives to pay TV,” says Brett Sappington, Parks’ senior director of research.

One drawback to streaming video services is that you can’t always get all your local channels as part of the plan.

An indoor HDTV anten ...read more

This lack of local channels is one reason that more households are using antennas, pulling in free over-the-air high-definition signals. In fact, Parks Associates, a research firm, estimates that one-fifth of broadband households now use a TV antenna.

From the article "How to Decide If Cord Cutting Is Right for You" by James Willcox.

"In 2017 we'll see new form factors emerge to track fitness activities beyond the wrist," says Harry Wang, senior director of research for Parks Associates, a market resesarch and consulting firm. In-ear "'hearables' with fitness tracking function and digital patches are the most likely emerging form factors, as well as sensors built into exercise garments like sports bras, socks, and shorts."

From the article "Fitness Trackers Leave the Wrist Behind" by Dan Tynan.

"The start-ups likely interpret the router space as relatively commoditized and see an opportunity to differentiate with new features," says Brad Russell, a research analyst with Parks Associates in Dallas. And looks will be a big part of that. “Routers used to be seen as a purely functional device with a bunch of unsightly antennas that you'd hide inside a room,” he says. “Now they're designed to be Apple-esque things that are beautiful to look at."

From the article "Can Wi ...read more

In fact, almost 90 percent of all streaming media devices in the U.S. are sold by these companies, according to research firm Parks ­Associates. And they each offer a choice of different models. Most of these platforms sell both a set-top box and a stick-style media player, with prices ranging from as little as $35 to nearly $200. Stick-style players tend to cost the least, but generally have fewer features than set-top box models.

From the article "Who Makes the Top Streami ...read more

With streaming entertainment on the rise, it's no surprise that streaming media players continue to be a popular choice with consumers. A just-released study from market research firm Parks Associates says that 14 percent of U.S. broadband households intend to purchase a player by the middle of 2016. And, as of the third quarter of this year, 31 percent of households already own one, up from 27 percent at the start of the year.

From the article "You're Not the Only One Hooke ...read more