The TV is still the dominant device for watching video at home, according to a new report. The tendency of late is for services to navigate towards a mobile-first approach, and while the number of hours spent watching on a smaller, personal screen has increased, the latest data suggests the TV set remains way ahead of every other device. For now.
How consumers watch video has changed dramatically in the last few years and services have started to evolve to embrace this change. This is most evidently seen recently with the new Quibi streaming service which appears to be designing content, how it is presented and delivered, and even its duration with a mobile device in mind. However, data from Parks Associates suggests the industry is still some way off getting rid of the big screen in the living room.
In a new 360 View: Digital Media and Connected Consumers report, Parks Associates found that the TV still accounts for more than 50 percent of all video consumed by broadband households in the U.S. The report states that consumers on average spend 20 hours each week watching on the big screen in the home. In comparison, less than four hours on average were spent watching on a mobile phone. As is to be expected, demographics plays a role here with the research finding that not only were consumers aged between 18 and 24 spending less time than the overall average watch time using a TV set, but also spent as much time watching video on a computer (16 hours per week) as they did on a TV.
In spite of the differences, it does seem like the increased variety of devices consumers can use to watch is having a positive impact on the overall number of hours. The report found a 33-percent increase in the number of hours spent watching video each week in 2019, compared to 2018.
Netflix and locals prove the most popular
Netflix appears to be as dominant in U.S. broadband homes as the TV with one-half subscribing to the streaming service, according to the report. In second place was Amazon Prime Video with its adoption rate some ways away from Netflix at 38 percent.
In other findings, the report suggests that more than 25-percent of broadband households in the U.S. ranked local channels as “their most enjoyed type of channel.” Although one-quarter might not sound like much, the researchers stated this was “far ahead of all other types,” suggesting many consumers still place an increased value on access to local news, sports and entertainment.
Source: Parks Associates
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