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Streaming video device pioneer Roku continues to lead the market, but rivals Amazon.com ( AMZN ), Apple ( AAPL ) and Alphabet ( GOOGL )-owned Google are close behind. Roku accounted for 30% of streaming media players purchased in 2015, down from 34% in 2014, research firm Parks Associates reported Tuesday . The Los Gatos, Calif.-based company makes set-top boxes and streaming media sticks that plug into TVs. Increasingly Roku is getting its software installed in smart TVs, eliminating the need for separate hardware to access Internet video services like Netflix ( NFLX ), Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. Amazon moved into a virtual tie with Google at 22% of streaming media device sales. Amazon sells Fire TV devices and Google sells Chromecast streaming sticks. Apple came in fourth place with 20% market share for its Apple TV set-top box. The top four players accounted for 94% of streaming media players purchased in 2015, up from 86% in 2014, Parks Associates said. About 36% of U.S. broadband households have at least one streaming media player, up from 27% a year ago, Parks said. “Device makers have successfully sold streaming media players to consumers by offering easy access to a variety of content streams, as well as frequent updates that add the latest innovation,” Parks analyst Barbara Kraus said in a statement. “Amazon in particular has benefited by promoting its Fire TV devices in conjunction with the company’s Prime Video service as well as streams from HBO, Showtime and other premium offerings.” RELATED: Netflix Gets Vote Of Confidence From RBC Amid Heightened Skepticism Scalper1 News
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