Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

How Many Consumers Actually Have VR Headsets?

Parks Associates released new consumer research this week showing that 2 percent of U.S. broadband households, or 2.3 million households, own a virtual reality headset. The survey of 10,000 U.S. broadband households reportedly reveals that 5 percent of U.S. broadband households plan to buy a VR headset in 2016, an increase from only 1 percent who made a purchase the year prior.

“The big change in VR for 2016 has been the availability or pending availability of VR headsets from companies such as Facebook (Oculus Rift), Google (Google Cardboard) and HTC (Vive). Sony PlayStation VR is expected to be released in October. We expect gamers to be the initial market for VR,” Barbara Kraus, Parks Associates director of research, says. “VR is an immersive experience, and more is better for gamers – more immersion, better sound, better graphics, and more players. The mass market is more likely to adopt mobile VR, which will be less expensive and uses a tool – the smartphone – that the majority of U.S. consumers own.”

From the article "How Many Consumers Actually Have VR Headsets?" by Laura Hamilton.

Previously In The News

Advertising Absent From Most OTT Services

At the end of 2015, Parks says about 20% of U.S. broadband homes had cancelled at least one OTT video service during the previous 12 months. Growing levels of password sharing with OTT services is...

5% Own Smart Appliances, 18% Plan To Buy One

The 360 View Update: Consumer Demand for Connected Major Appliances by Parks Associates found that fewer than 5% of U.S. households currently own a smart appliance and less than a quarter (18%) of con...

WWE Gets Streaming Boost As Wrestling Fans Subscribe

WWE has been at the forefront of the media industry’s attempts to establish a business providing programming straight to viewers, without an intermediary like cable or satellite networks, while still...

Consumers Look For New Value In Smart Home Products

Smart home products have to create new value if they are to be adopted. That’s the conclusion of a new study on various aspects of the Internet of Things, including smart lighting and other smart p...