More households buying streaming media players; Roku still tops

During the first three quarters of 2014, 10 percent of US households with a broadband connection bought at least one streaming-media player, market researcher Parks Associates Research said Tuesday. The players include set-top boxes and sticks, which plug into HDMI ports, that access scores of channels and services, such as Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon Instant Video. Roku's lineup of set-top boxes and streaming sticks was still the most popular so far this year despite a strong dip, securing 29 percent of sales in the first nine months. Google's Chromecast stick leaped onto the scene, snagging the No. 2 spot with 20 percent share and stealing Apple TV's previous slot. The Apple TV box fell to third place with 17 percent share. Amazon's Fire TV box and stick, also new on the scene, came in fourth place with 10 percent share. [...] Roku, which has been the dominant force since 2012, saw its market share slip from 46 percent last year to 29 percent in the first nine months of 2014. Apple TV also slipped from 26 percent last year to 17 percent so far this year. They both lost share as Google's Chromecast and Amazon's Fire TV have come on strong. - Don Reisinger,CNET [via/web:http://streaming-tv.us]