In the first nine months of 2014 alone, 10% of American households with a broadband connection snapped up a set-top box or a media streaming stick -- that's equal to total sales of the devices in 2013.

The days of linear television viewing -- where consumers accept what broadcasters have scheduled and when -- are quickly drawing to a close. "Nearly 50% of video content that U.S. consumers watch on a TV set is non-linear, up from 38% in 2010, and it is already the majority for people 18-44," said Barbara Kraus, Director, Research, Parks Associates.

The business intelligence firm's latest data shows that increased affordability is also playing a role in this changing consumer behaviour. Google's Chromecast, priced at $35, has this year become the second most popular device for streaming, accounting for 20% of sales, nudging Apple TV into third place. Amazon debuted its first set-top box media streamer, the Fire TV, in April 2014 and it is also proving very popular, already accounting for 10% of sales.

From the article "25% of U.S. homes to be streaming media via TVs by 2015."

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