Mobile Devices Taking Over Content Discovery

According to Parks Associates, smartphones and tablets are expanding their role in video second-screen experiences, particularly in content discovery, with 22% of U.S. broadband consumers checking or updating their social network on a smartphone or tablet while watching TV.The research house reports instances of mobile activities while watching TV increase significantly among consumers 18-34 years old, who are 70% more likely than other age groups to look up TV listings via a mobile device.Apps from content owners such as USA Network and Nickelodeon, along with OTT services from providers like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, have driven the rapid increase in mobile usage. Parks finds that most mobile viewing occurs in the home - 60% for the mobile phone and 70% for the tablet - suggesting that consumers engage in blended usage scenarios, with the TV as the preferred screen for viewing, while they use mobile devices for content discovery and selection.