Chromecast Most Popular Streaming Device in 2014 With 10 Million Sales And 1 Billion 'Casts'

News
By Lucian Armasu
published

When Google announced the Chromecast in mid-2013, many agreed that it was a great product that was easy to use. It also came with a low price tag of only $35, which alone almost guaranteed the success of the device.

Fast forward a year and a half, and Google announced that the Chromecast was the most popular streaming device in the U.S. in 2014, with 10 million units sold and one billion "casts" or streams from Android and iOS mobile devices as well as from the desktop Chrome browser, according to NPD.

As more apps started supporting the Chromecast, its usage per user increased as well, growing by 60 percent compared to when it launched. The Chromecast supports around 350 streaming services right now, but according to Google more than 6,000 developers are working on 10,000 Google Cast-ready applications. As such, Google will probably see Chromecast usage skyrocket in 2015, along with the sales of the device itself.

Streaming content alone is a growing trend that will become even bigger in 2015. Park Associates estimated that this year 25 percent of U.S. broadband homes will be streaming their TV content. This could in turn convince even more content networks such as HBO to put its content online and unbundled from the cable package. These services will give streaming devices such as the Chromecast a big boost in sales over the coming years.

The Chromecast has quite a few streaming competitors in the market, from the well known Apple TV and Roku (which was actually the most popular streaming device late last year until the Chromecast caught up to it), to new entrants such as the Amazon Fire Stick and Walmart's Vudu Spark.

Google's Chromecast has already gained significant momentum in the market, though, and thanks to its Android ecosystem, Google can also get hardware manufacturers to build Google Cast support into their hardware, making Google's "casting" technology even more ubiquitous. This year may also be the year we see a "next-generation" Chromecast with faster hardware and more features.

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Lucian Armasu
Lucian Armasu
Lucian Armasu is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He covers software news and the issues surrounding privacy and security.
8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • TomBetzNY
    You know, the Roku's YouTube app and Amazon's Fire TV and Stick also support the ChromeCast protocol. I cast to both of them from my Android and ChromeOS devices.

    Is this really 1 billion casts to ChromeCast, or 1 billion uses of the ChromeCast protocol?
    Reply
  • stevejnb
    Nice to see streaming picking up - now, let's get full on device streaming, stable, lagless, supported, and popular. The fewer wires in my setup, the better.
    Reply
  • dstarr3
    I picked up the Amazon Fire Stick when it was on sale for $20 for Prime Members. Gotta tell ya, that was a great way to spend that $20. Brilliant little thing.
    Reply
  • thundervore
    I love my Chromecast, honestly I only user it to stream youtube because it does it without commercials. I can queue up a whole 20 part of Lets Play totaling 20 hours and not a single ad popup or commercial.

    Streaming Plex to it was icing on the cake.
    Reply
  • Vlad Rose
    Took the chance on one last year. Figured $35, why not? My wife and roommate use it non stop to cast their Taiwanese shows on the big TV. Once they added Plex support to it, I started to use it constantly as well. Best $35 I've spent.
    Reply
  • TunaSoda
    Chromecast isn't worth the money I spent on it (got a brand new one for free)
    Reply
  • Osmin
    I have both the Chromecast and Amazon Fire Stick at home but was definitely amazed by what that $20 Fire Stick could do. The faster response from the Amazon Fire Stick with the remote control is easier to use for NetFlix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, and other streaming apps without the need of your cellphone or tablet.
    Reply
  • carlos serrano
    I have all three Chromecast, roku stick and the Amazon, they all have their pros and cons, in opinion roku is the best, the reason Chromecast and the fire stick don't do a good job when use hulu, I know hulu is only available in the USA but I hate the time it takes to load commercial when watching Hulu
    Reply