Home Theater Review

A recent study conducted by Parks Associates confirmed the growing popularity of smart devices in the U.S. home security market. The study found that the sale of wireless home security products is on the rise, and about half of U.S. homeowners with a home security system use smart, wireless sensors as part of the system. The study also found that almost 50 percent of these smart-home devices were installed by the owner or the owner's friends/family members. More findings are lis ...read more

Another recent Parks Associates report found that 70 percent of U.S. security dealers currently install or plan to install some type of interactive smart-home device or system within their residential offerings in the next 12 months; HAUS would like to provide the training and research for these dealers to make sure they understand the wants and needs of this new customer base. Daniels also mentioned the mechanical/electrical/plumbing industry, as well as smaller AV electronics ...read more

A recent article in Multichannel News provided new findings from Parks Associates showing that 40 percent of U.S. pay TV subscribers used TV Everywhere options in 2015, up from 22 percent in 2013. "TV Everywhere" describes streaming services provided to cable/satellite customers, allowing them to access streamed versions of specific channels like ESPN, ABC, or CNN if those channels are part of their pay-TV package. A growing number of providers offer TV Everywhere options, and c ...read more

A recent Parks Associates report reveals that 68 percent of U.S. smartphone owners listen to streaming music every day, for an average of 45 minutes per day. Amazon Prime Music emerged as the most popular paid streaming music service in this research. On the video side, 71 percent of smartphone owners watch short video clips (for an average of 24 minutes per day), while 40 percent watch longer clips like TV shows and movies. The report also showed that iPhone users consume more ...read more

A recent Parks Research study found that, of U.S. broadband households, 18 percent plan to buy earbuds over the next 12 months, 16 percent plan to buy headphones, and 15 percent plan to buy wireless speakers. "The smartphone has evolved into the primary interface for the connected home," says Parks Research, and it is driving interest in the wireless and "connected audio" categories. The company's 360 View: Mobility and App Economy report states that more than one third of U.S. ...read more

Parks reported that 19 percent of U.S. broadband households intend to purchase a flat-panel TV set by the end of 2015. Roughly 40 percent of those households are looking for a 4K TV set, which is approximately 7.5 percent of U.S. broadband households, while 42 percent of U.S. broadband households indicate they are not familiar with 4K technology. Parks Associates reported that low familiarity, low willingness to pay premium prices, content concerns and a cooling market for flat ...read more

The market research group Parks Associates recently released findings from its Connected Game Consoles study, which found that the game console is the primary connected (smart) CE device in U.S. households. The survey of 10,000 U.S. broadband households found that 46 percent have an Internet-connected game console and 28 percent use that device as their primary method of accessing online content. The second most used connected device is the smart TV, followed by the standalone s ...read more

Parks Associates recently presented consumer data showing traditional promotions, such as offering free or discounted premium channels, are the most-effective tool for pay-TV providers in luring back lost subscribers.

The findings came from research and analysis of consumers who recently re-subscribed to pay-TV service after cutting the cord and those who have canceled their subscription to Netflix Watch Instantly. Parks Associates' consumer research finds 44% of customers w ...read more