Parks Associates: TV-Related Apps Gaining in Popularity

DALLAS: New research from Parks Associates shows that usage of TV apps is on the rise, with 55 percent of U.S. smartphone owners and 61 percent of tablet owners using TV-related applications at least once a month.

The firm expects the number of global TV-app users to reach 1.29 billion by 2019.

More than 70 percent of TV-app users say they are satisfied with the TV show or network apps they use, Parks Associates reports. More than 23 percent of U.S. smartphone owners ages 18 to 34 have used a TV app on their smartphone to schedule a DVR recording, while more than 22 percent have used an app that transforms their smartphone into a remote control for their TV or set-top box.

“TV app usage is altering the use cases for multiple connected devices; currently 57 percent of connected game console owners are using the device to watch TV shows,” said Stuart Sikes, the president of Parks Associates. “We are also seeing new revenue opportunities emerge through in-app solutions in the smart home and Internet of Things. In-app solutions will be a large focus of our 2014 Connections Conference, where our analysts and industry leaders will address the changes surrounding the connected home and implications for consumers and businesses.”