Some 42 million U.S. households had a TV...

Some 42 million U.S. households had a TV connected to the Internet in Q1 via a video game console, Blu-ray disc player, streaming media player or through TV software, said the NPD Connected Intelligence report. From 2013 to 2014, the number of homes connected to the Internet via TV grew by 6 million, driven by growth in sales of connected TVs and streaming media players, NPD said. For the first time, in Q1 the number of streaming media players connected to the Internet outpaced the number of connected Blu-ray players, it said. “Consumers want devices that can deliver high-quality content to their TVs,” said John Buffone, executive director, Connected Intelligence, NPD. The increased penetration in connected TV and streaming media players indicates consumers are looking for “app-related content in the simplest, most effective way,” Buffone said. NPD data show 67 percent of connected TV users said connectivity via Wi-Fi was key to their purchase decision. Other purchase factors related to ease of use with devices or the interfaces for home screens or apps, NPD said. The TV viewing experience consumers want “has not changed, although how they receive it continues to, and an app experience is no different,” said Buffone. “Consumers want easy to find, entertaining programming and a quality picture that does not buffer.” The survey was conducted with more than 5,000 U.S. consumers, age 18 and older, during Q1.