Parks Associates: 65% of Broadband Consumers Engage in at Least One Second-Screen Activity on a Monthly Basis

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - Mar 10, 2016) - New digital media research from Parks Associates finds 65% of U.S. broadband households engage in at least one second-second screen activity on at least a monthly basis. 360 View Update: Second-Screen Usage Patterns finds the most common activity is to search for information about the program being watched.

"Most consumers favor a passive second-screen experience that complements the already immersive first-screen experience versus the highly interactive apps that typified the first phase of second-screen solutions," said Glenn Hower, Research Analyst, Parks Associates. "Second-screen users are more likely to engage in supplemental activities, like looking up information while they watch TV, as opposed to social media activities. These types of apps open new partnership opportunities among content providers, data aggregators, advertisers, and service providers."

Nineteen percent of pay-TV subscribers report that they have a mobile app from their service provider, up from 16% in 2014. The highest adoption is among AT&T U-Verse and Verizon FiOS subscribers at roughly 30%. Between 18% and 25% of cable subscribers report having an app from their provider. Only 22% of DIRECTV subscribers and 17% of DISH Network users report having an app.

"Apps are a key part of service provider strategies to drive second-screen activities, including content discovery functions, content recommendations, and programming information and descriptions," Hower said. "While adoption is still low, we are getting a clearer picture of what consumers want in a second-screen solution. Consumers do not want to divide their attention while watching TV."

360 View Update: Second-Screen Usage Patterns examines adoption trends of second-screen platforms and usage while viewing primary video content, with particular emphasis on mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. The research looks at possible partnership opportunities between content providers, advertisers, and service providers to drive consumer interaction with primary on-screen content.

The research is available to purchase at www.parksassociates.com. To schedule an interview with an analyst or to request specific data, contact Holly Sprague at hsprague@gmail.com, 720.987.6614.

Parks Associates will examine OTT strategies, CE innovations, and challenges in connected entertainment, including piracy and privacy concerns, at the upcoming CONNECTIONS™: The Premier Connected Home Conference, May 24-26, in San Francisco. View the agenda at www.connectionsus.com.

About Parks Associates
Parks Associates is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, primary studies, consumer research, custom research, workshops, executive conferences, and annual service subscriptions.

The company's expertise includes digital media and platforms, entertainment and gaming, home networks, Internet and television services, digital health, mobile applications and services, support services, consumer apps, advanced advertising, consumer electronics, energy management, and home control systems and security.

Each year, Parks Associates hosts industry webcasts, the CONNECTIONS™ Conference Series, Connected Health Summit: Engaging Consumers, and Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer. http://www.parksassociates.com