Analyst: Connected Consoles Up 64 Percent From 2008 To 2009

The demand for Web-connected television helped drive up the number of U.S. households using internet-ready game consoles 64 percent between 2008 and 2009, says a new research report from Parks Associates. One third of Xbox 360 owners are streaming online video, the report adds. And the number of consumers who hooked up their PC to a television to watch online programs rose 36 percent, to three-fourths of U.S. households. "Many households are working with devices they already have to get the connected-TV experience, which shows strong future demand for connected TVs, Web-enabled Blu-ray players, and networked digital media players such as Apple TV and Roku," says Parks Associates VP and principal analyst Kurt Scherf. Adds Scherf: "Manufacturers and service providers should examine these consumer behaviors closely, so they can match their current and future connected offerings with actual demand without pricing themselves out of the market."