More than half (53 percent) of online US adults enjoy some form of streaming or downloaded video content in the home. That is according to a new study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), which found there to be a distinct preference for streaming video versus downloading content.
Some 51 percent view streaming content and spend an average of two hours per week watching, according to CEA, which found that just 15 percent download content and spend an average of one hour watching.
The study, entitled Connecting the Dots Between Consumers, Content and Consumer Electronics in the Home, also revealed that 54 percent of online US adults listen to digital audio in the home. However, the CEA found that the preference in this case is for downloaded audio (43 percent), not streaming audio (37 percent).
"Technology allows consumers to access almost any content they desire instantaneously on Internet-connected devices," Chris Ely, manager of industry relations at CEA, commented. "The rise of mobile broadband has resulted in the emergence of connected devices that are able to stream content directly from the Internet, and services that allow consumers to store and access content without the need of a hard drive."
Furthermore, the CEA forecast continued growth of digital media consumption, explaining that the expansion will be largely driven by improvements to the number of connected devices and services for accessing content.
"Manufacturers, content providers, aggregators and service providers must work together to ensure the content customers want is accessible through different devices," CEA said in a statement. "The sooner the market is able to meet the consumers' needs, the sooner the industry will reap the benefits."
The CEA explained that the study was designed to shed more light on how US consumers are accessing content in their homes and their interest in media connectivity systems. The results may prompt a change in the approach of big media firms, many of which remain still unsure how to make the most of cutting-edge technology to deliver content.