Apple TV viewing hours surged 709 percent in March quarter
Video streaming on the Apple TV rocketed higher during the March quarter, with viewing hours up 709 percent year-over-year, according to newly published research data.
By comparison, Roku hours were up 87 percent, said video AI platform Conviva, cited by TechCrunch. Roku, however, maintained the lead in total hours streamed -- one billion -- versus the Apple TV's 256 million.
The video streaming industry as a whole is said to have grown hours watched by 114 percent to almost 5 billion. Conviva's data is relatively comprehensive, as its clients include the likes of CBS, Hulu, HBO, NBC, Turner, and Sky.
It's not clear what was behind the surge of the Apple TV, but the Apple TV 4K launched in September. One of Apple's coups with the product was the ability to buy 4K versions of many movies at the same cost as 1080p. In some cases, previously purchased 1080p movies can be upgraded automatically.
The set-top box is also one of the few that can output HDR (high dynamic range) video using either Dolby Vision or HDR10 -- many devices only support one of the two, if any. Amazon also resumed Apple TV sales in December, simultaneously bringing its Prime Video app to tvOS.
Apple may still have trouble catching up to Roku, which has had success with an agnostic approach to streaming services, as well as selling many different tiers of hardware. The company has also partnered with makers like TCL and Sharp on TVs that use Roku OS as their native interface.
By comparison, Roku hours were up 87 percent, said video AI platform Conviva, cited by TechCrunch. Roku, however, maintained the lead in total hours streamed -- one billion -- versus the Apple TV's 256 million.
The video streaming industry as a whole is said to have grown hours watched by 114 percent to almost 5 billion. Conviva's data is relatively comprehensive, as its clients include the likes of CBS, Hulu, HBO, NBC, Turner, and Sky.
It's not clear what was behind the surge of the Apple TV, but the Apple TV 4K launched in September. One of Apple's coups with the product was the ability to buy 4K versions of many movies at the same cost as 1080p. In some cases, previously purchased 1080p movies can be upgraded automatically.
The set-top box is also one of the few that can output HDR (high dynamic range) video using either Dolby Vision or HDR10 -- many devices only support one of the two, if any. Amazon also resumed Apple TV sales in December, simultaneously bringing its Prime Video app to tvOS.
Apple may still have trouble catching up to Roku, which has had success with an agnostic approach to streaming services, as well as selling many different tiers of hardware. The company has also partnered with makers like TCL and Sharp on TVs that use Roku OS as their native interface.
Comments
But the Apple TV has better quality apps plus some pretty good games.
Also quite a bit more powerful.
The Roku’s main card is pricing. It’s most expensive box is about half the price of a 4k Apple TV.
Regarding gaming, they should produce a genuine first party dedicated gaming controller. ‘People who are serious about software should make their own hardware’.
🙄
For us, the Sling App used on ATV4 and its included DVR fits our needs.
Now that Amazon Prime is on ATV4, the access to different services is complete.
I gotta wonder if I'd be better off buying 4K Blu-rays...
I wonder if that promotion has added to a spike in numbers.
I don't go to movies, b/c people eat like donkeys.
I don't rent or buy DVD's.
I don't have cable b/c of the inane and incessant commercials. I don't need to know about Taco Bell's new cheesy fries. (Are they trying to kill us?)
I pay for HBONow for Bill Maher and the occasional moview and suscribe CNN's GPS with Fareed Zakaria (the best show on television!) even though I have to watch it a day later. Ugh!
I pay $6.99 to rent movies and sometimes purchase them at $15-$20 if I can't wait for them to become available to rent. My rational is, I used to take my GF to the movies and dinner on Friday nights...but it would end up costing me $100. No more. Now we watch movies at home. She doesn't like it as much. Sometimes she goes out with her 'best friend.' I never did like that guy! /s
Best.
Noisely.