• by Daisy Whitney , Op-Ed Contributor, June 30, 2016

More Americans are using connected TVs now than a year ago. About 74% of online Americans use some form of Internet-connected TV set, and that’s a big jump from 59% last year, according to new research from Frank N. Magid Associates.

Much of the growth is fueled by younger audiences. Videogame consoles are still the most popular form of connected device, with 33% of respondents using them to route streaming video to their TV set, up from 30% a year ago. However, the biggest jumps year-over-year came in the popularity boost of Internet streaming devices, now used by 31% this year, up from 20% last year, and smart TVs, used by 26% of respondents, up from 16% a year ago.

The researcher also found that 46% of respondents watch video on their smartphones each day, a category driven by both 18- to 34-year-olds and by men. By contrast, about 39% of online Americans watch video on the computer each day, compared with 30% who watch on tablets, a mere 18% who view on connected and smart TVs daily, and only 13% who use gaming consoles for that purpose.

Indeed, despite the widespread penetration of connected devices, there is still room for usage to catch up.

As to be expected, Netflix continues to command the vast majority of the streaming viewership. It was the top source for paid streaming content of TV shows and movies, according to 58% of respondents in the survey, compared to 34% who cited Amazon, 20% who said they use Hulu Plus, and 16% who watch HBO Now. Among free sources for TV movies or TV shows and movies were YouTube, Hulu and broadcast network Web sites.