• by Alex Weprin , May 9, 2018

Consumers are increasingly turning to connected TV devices to stream video content in the home, and video consumption on those devices has tripled since 2015.

That stat comes from “The Secret Life of Streamers, Part Two," from the data-driven OTT intelligence platform Conviva, in conjunction with OTT multiscreen media analysis form nScreenMedia.

“Our most recent analysis shows connected TV dominating all devices 24/7, with plays increasing 75%, highlighting the rise of this platform at the expense of other screens,” said nScreenMedia founder Colin Dixon, who wrote the report.

“The transition from traditional television to streaming television has become more prominent, and viewers are binge-watching multiple shows via connected TV during prime time.”

The report was a followup to a similar one conducted in 2016, in which the PC was the primary gateway to streaming video in most households, followed by smartphones, connected TVs and tablets.

“Today, the PC is fading fast and has lost its dominant position in video,” the 2018 report says. “As well, the tablet has faded in our video affections. Meanwhile, the connected television has grown prodigiously in reach and usage. Moreover, the smartphone continues its relentless march into every corner of our lives.”

While the smartphone remains the king of video reach, with 63% of millennials and Gen Xers using it for video, and 39% of baby boomers using it, the connected TV is not far behind, with 56% of millennials and Gen Xers and 36% of baby boomers using those devices for video.

The report finds that the smartphone is the “Swiss Army knife of video,” used in and out of homes, for short-form and long-form content. Meanwhile, connected TV devices are becoming the primary screen for premium prime-time quality programming, as well as live events.

The full report can be read here.