Roku, Amazon Gain in Streaming Media Player Adoption, Says Parks Report

Roku extended its lead in the streaming media player market, to 37 percent of U.S. homes in Q1, up from a third in the year-ago quarter, said a Wednesday Parks Associates report. Cost is a top factor for Roku’s lead, with its devices found at Walmart for as low as $29.99, said analyst Glenn Hower. Amazon’s Fire TV had a market share increase for the period, too, jumping from 16 percent to 24 percent, pushing past Google’s Chromecast (18 percent) for second place in streaming media player adoption, said Hower. Apple’s share fell to 15 percent with Apple TV. One-third of U.S. broadband households own a streaming media device, said Parks.