Smart TVs the default in US

More than half of US households now own a smart TV.

According to a new report from Parks Associates, 55% of US broadband households own a smart TV. The research firm expects smart TVs to cement their position as the default connected streaming device this year, with consumers seeking a single device for their entertainment needs.

Eric Sorensen, Senior Contributing Analyst, Parks Associates, said: “Rapid changes in the market over the past two years, combined with continually shifting customer preferences, have forced service and device suppliers to adjust and adapt on an almost daily basis. The standard in service now is to deliver desirable content so that consumers can view it when, where, and how they want it. Service providers, both conventional and online, will have to continue to adjust as consumer demands continue to evolve.”

The report goes on to claim that streaming services in 2022 will begin to recognise churn as a normal part of business, with subscribers frequently swapping services in and out to suit their needs. The average OTT subscriber churn rate in 2020 was 40%, but that has increased to 45% in 2022.

It also argues that traditional movie windowing releases will erode more this year, with hybrid cinema and DTC release strategies becoming increasingly common.