31% of Adults Watch Video via a Connected TV Device Daily

Durham, NH, June 3, 2019 — New consumer research from Leichtman Research Group, Inc. (LRG) finds that 74% of U.S. TV households have at least one Internet-connected TV device, including connected Smart TVs, stand-alone streaming devices (like Roku, Amazon Fire TV stick or set-top box, Chromecast, or Apple TV), connected video game systems, and/or connected Blu-ray players. This is a similar level to last year, and an increase from 69% with at least one connected TV device in 2017, 50% in 2014, and 24% in 2010.

Overall, 31% of adults in U.S. TV households watch video on a TV via a connected device daily – compared to 25% in 2017, 11% in 2014, and 1% in 2010.  Younger individuals are most likely to use connected TV devices. Among adults ages 18-34, 53% watch video on a TV via a connected device daily, compared to 31% of ages 35-54, and 12% of ages 55+.

These findings are based on a survey of 1,150 TV households throughout the U.S., and are part of a new LRG study, Connected and 4K TVs 2019.  This is LRG’s sixteenth annual study on TV in the U.S.

Other findings include:

  • 25% of adults with a pay-TV service watch video via a connected TV device daily – compared to 49% of pay-TV non-subscribers
  • 49% of TV households have at least one stand-alone streaming device – up from 40% in 2017, and 17% in 2014
  • 18% of adults watch video on a TV via a stand-alone device daily – compared to 12% in 2017, and 4% in 2014
  • 14% of adults watch Internet-delivered video via a connected Smart TV daily – compared to 10% in 2017, and 4% in 2014
  • 32% of all TVs in U.S. households are connected Smart TVs – an increase from 24% in 2017, and 7% in 2014
  • 22% with annual household incomes >$50,000 have a 4K HDTV – compared to 9% with annual household incomes <$50,000
  • 34% of those that got a new TV in the past year have a 4K HDTV

“About three-quarters of all TV households in the U.S. now have at least one connected TV device, with a mean of 3.9 devices per connected TV household,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc. “Over half of all adults watch video via a connected TV device at least weekly, an increase from one-quarter of adults five years ago, and nearly one-third of adults now use these devices daily.”

Leichtman Research Group, Inc. (LRG) specializes in research and analysis on the broadband, media and entertainment industries. LRG combines ongoing consumer research studies with industry tracking and analysis, to provide companies with a richer understanding of current market conditions, and the adoption and impact of new products and services.

Connected and 4K TVs 2019 is based on a survey of 1,150 adults ages 18+ from throughout the continental U.S. in households with a TV set.  The random sample of respondents was distributed and weighted to best reflect the demographic and geographic makeup of the U.S. The telephone survey (including landline and cell phone calls) was conducted in April-May 2019.  The overall sample has a statistical margin of error of +/- 2.9%.