Entertainment and The Connected Home

Technology has always been a cornerstone of the entertainment industry. The evolution of smart devices and the expansion of connectivity have played a major role in how consumers discover and watch content today. Ultimately shifting viewing habits as well as consumer expectations when it comes to not only the entertainment experience but also the promise of a connected home.

These technological advances have led to new ways of delivering and consuming content where consumers have many choices for content consumption across platforms, devices, and distribution channels. Despite the fragmentation, consumers are watching TV more than ever before.

According to Nielsen’s Q1 2018 Total Audience Report, U.S. adults spend nearly 6 hours a day watching video across devices. Nielsen shows a steady increase from previous quarters, pointing to the fact that not only does TV viewing remain the number one activity households engage in, but is also on the rise.

Today, the average home has 9.1 connected devices. Improvements in the technology and consumer desire for an enhanced lifestyle have all contributed to this rapid growth of the smart home and the penetration of connected devices within the home. Despite the proliferation of devices, consumer demand and opportunities in providing added value, the vision of seamlessly connected homes is not fully realized. Friction in getting devices to work with each other, lack of interoperability, and having to use multiple control points have created customer fatigue as opposed to delivering on the promise of utilizing technology to build products that make life simpler.

Nielsen highlighted in a report that 49% of users prefer to be able to control all aspects of their home through a single device, service or app for a unified experience. This can only be delivered when crossover compatibility and interoperability is a possibility. More than two-thirds of consumers want crossover applications that integrate with their home entertainment devices - according to Parks associates - with use cases around safety and security alerts being integrated into the entertainment experience.

The convergence of connected home and entertainment experience seems inevitable with adults spending six hours per day consuming video; it is a natural progression for consumers to want their entertainment system to work with other devices within their home across smart energy and lighting, smart security and home automation. This will enable new experiences that deliver the promise of the connected home, where technology simplifies life and brings comfort and convenience.

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