Roku has just introduced a new product, the Streaming Stick, that plugs into a TV's HDMI port and allows easy streaming of programmes and movies via the BBC iPlayer, Netflix and more.Like the Google Chromecast, which is widely available in the US but not yet on the market in the UK, the Roku's HDMI access is intended to replace a bulkier set-top box.
Apple TV competes with Roku and Chromecast, offering a compact unit that will stream content from iTunes, YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix and other sources.
In other words, more consumers are choosing to stream entertainment, accelerating trends reported in Ofcom's 2013 analysis of the media market. Consumers still watch TV but they also use a lot of devices to access content. And, of course, the tradition of watching TV live is eroding little by little. With on-demand content available for streaming at any hour, the viewing habits of the world are definitely changing. What will this mean for marketers who typically rely on TV adverts to communicate with viewers? Stay tuned.
