Roku, Chromecast Overtake Apple TV in Streaming Devices Market

According to a new report by market researcher Parks Associates (via CNET), the Apple TV is struggling to keep up with streaming-media devices, with Roku’s lineup of set-top boxes and streaming sticks being the most popular this year with 29% market share, followed by Google’s Chromecast stick at the No. 2 spot with 20% share, while the Apple TV has dropped to third place with 17% share.

The survey shows that during the first three quarters of 2014, 10% of US households with a broadband connection bought at least one streaming-media player. Apple jumped into the market in 2007 but last updated its box nearly two years ago. Roku launched its first box in mid-2008 but has continually updated its products, including releasing its stick in March this year. Amazon jumped into the market this year as well with its Fire TV box and stick, and currently stands in fourth place with 10% market share.

“Nearly 50 percent of video content that U.S. consumers watch on a TV set is non-linear, up from 38 percent in 2010, and it is already the majority for people 18-44,” Barbara Kraus, director of research at Parks Associates, said in a statement.

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.

The market researcher predicts nearly 50 million streaming media players will be sold globally by 2017