MUMBAI: In 2014, Amazon, Apple, Google, and Roku accounted for 86 per cent of all units sold to US broadband households, stated a report on streaming media devices published by Parks Associates - a market research and consulting company specialising in emerging consumer technology products and services.

According to the report, this will help new entrants develop unique solutions, which will impact the expanding eco-system. This also means that consumers can avail services that will meet their needs.

Parks Associates research director Barbara Kraus said, “Roku continues to lead streaming media device sales in the US with 34 per cent of units sold in 2014. Google is second with 23 per cent, and new entrant Amazon overtook Apple for third place.”

As per the report, 86 million streaming media devices will be sold globally in 2019.

Nearly, 20 per cent of US broadband households own at least one streaming media player like Roku 3, Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV. Furthermore, eight per cent own at least one streaming stick, such as a Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or Roku's HDMI Streaming Stick. However, only two per cent own both form factors- streaming media player and stick.

Kraus added, “Device shipments and sales receipts are important performance measures, but an equally critical metric for device makers is ongoing usage.”

“Usage will drive alternate revenue streams such as content sales and advertising. Roku devices are the most used among US broadband households that own a streaming media device at 37 per cent, followed by Google Chromecast at 19 per cent, Apple TV at 17 per cent, and Amazon Fire TV devices at 14 per cent,” she said.

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