Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

Parks: 83% of U.S. Internet Households Subscribe to at Least One OTT Service

 
A solid majority — 83% — of U.S. internet households now subscribe to at least one OTT service, according to new consumer research from Parks Associates. Meanwhile, 45% still subscribe to a traditional linear pay-TV service.
 
The firm’s new white paper, “Engaging Next-Gen Video Viewers: Leveraging AI and ML,” developed in partnership with FPT Software, addresses the increased use of video services, content preferences, discovery challenges and the role of bundles.
 
“The most successful video services going forward will be dominated by innovative technologies, including AI [artificial intelligence] and ML [machine learning], that drive sustained high levels of engagement with consumers through advanced content moderation and curation,” Sarah Lee, research analyst at Parks Associates, said in a statement
 
AI and ML can create a personal experience by leveraging data to understand patterns and relationships at a very granular level, beyond recommendations that “standard” big-data-based systems, according to Parks.
 
“There is a vast range of AI and ML use cases in media and entertainment — companies are only starting to scratch the surface,” Ira Dworkin, managing director of communications, media and entertainment for FPT Software, said in a statement. “These can range from generating richer metadata that can be used to drive experiences to reducing time required for content preparation to driving deeper advertising engagement. Leveraging and extending the data that already exists for many M&E companies to build bespoke AI/ML models can help to drive new insights, ultimately reducing churn and improving subscriber loyalty.”
 
Parks Associates research finds that 30% of U.S. internet households are “service hoppers” or streaming video subscribers who frequently switch services and re-subscribe multiple times. Businesses that harness AI can develop more effective and efficient strategies to keep these viewers from “hopping,” according to Parks.
 
“By understanding the viewer on a deeper, personal level, businesses can deliver a more positive, individualized experience that drives acquisition, satisfaction, and retention,” Lee said in a statement. “AI and ML models can provide this understanding and identify factors that result in higher customer acquisition and long-term subscriptions.”
 
From the article, "Parks: 83% of U.S. Internet Households Subscribe to at Least One OTT Service," by Stephanie Prange.

Previously In The News

Sony Goes All In on PlayStation

Sony hasn’t had much to cheer about over the past decade. Samsung and Apple crushed its smartphones, and even its TV business was eclipsed by rivals from China and South Korea. So forgive the proud ho...

For Cord Cutters, AT&T’s New Virtual Cable Service An Unlikely Solution

Each is a decent enough product, but they’ve generated hardly any interest from consumers. Research firm Parks Associates estimated in October that after 18 months, Sling TV had signed up only 1 milli...

Can an AI burglar alarm predict break-ins before they happen?

Despite all of the talk surrounding smart, connected homes and the Internet of Things, according to analysts and research firms, the only area where the technology is really gaining traction with cons...

Streaming Boom Reaches 2021 Crossroads: Can Big Media Really Catch Netflix?

Streaming is continuing to replace other forms of viewing. As pay-TV subscriptions continued to wane in 2020, the number of households subscribing to multiple streaming services reached 61%, up from 4...