Blog articles from 04/2014

Parks Associates home energy management research finds that only 30% of the 160 million meters in the United States have been upgraded to smart meters. This means that a majority of meters have no communications within U.S. broadband households. To complicate the matter further, there are over 10 million load control devices deployed using hundreds of different demand response communication approaches.  No single technology is used by more than 10% of utilities. As the...

In a recent article for E-commerce Times , Parks Associates director of research Brett Sappington discussed the role of the user interface (UI) in video content. The interface represents the main way a consumer interacts with a video service, so having a good experience with the UI becomes key in winning over customers. The UI also allows consumers to find the content they want to see. Several video services and OTT providers have developed their own methods for helping users...

New Parks Associates consumer research examines the trend toward original content and how it impacts consumption and brand perception. The research firm finds that new technologies and content options are driving changes in digital media consumption. In the video market, online video sources are now becoming important sources for content, especially for younger consumers. The disruptive forces behind this shift are also affecting other aspects of digital media, including music,...

Nearly 30% of AT&T pay-TV subscribers are aware of the TV Everywhere services they receive as part of their U-verse pay-TV service, compared to the industry average of 21%, according to new research that Parks Associates is announcing today. The VP of U-verse is giving the opening keynote at the CONNECTIONS Connected Home Conference in San Francisco next month. GW Shaw will present  "Differentiating TV with Apps in a Competitive, Multi-screen Market" ...

Parks Associates recently released new consumer data examining the impact of technology on the healthcare needs of U.S. consumers. The report, which includes 2,500 consumers in U.S. broadband households, finds that the top three digital health activities over the past year include looking up health information online, using a provider or insurer's website, and using websites for appointments, lab results, or prescriptions. Healthcare providers and insurers, drug companies,...

Parks Associates is releasing new research on TV and movie content licensing today - particularly the impact of multiscreen, time-shifting, and the demand for exclusive content. The report shows: - Pay-TV penetration remains fairly steady at around 85% of U.S. broadband households. - OTT video use is increasing on multiple devices, particularly with younger viewers: nearly 40% millenials consider online video the most important source for video content. Also, analyst Glenn...

In a new digital media research report , Parks Associates finds that pay-TV penetration remains fairly steady at around 85% of U.S. broadband households but over-the-top (OTT) video use is increasing on multiple devices, particularly with younger viewers. The report, Trends in Content Licensing , was released following the 2014 NAB Show and the Aereo, Inc. case before the Supreme Court. Forty percent of Millenials consider online video to be their most important source for video...

Parks Associates analysts are closely following the Aereo case today and Netflix raising its prices. Two analysts provided the following comments and related research about Netflix's news: Brett Sappington , Director of Research, Parks Associates (@BrettsView): - Netflix and other OTT players are faced with rising content costs and fixed revenue streams. So, something ultimately had to give. - Raising the price for new customers could have an additional benefit for Netflix...