Online TV viewership has doubled since 2006, according to a Thursday study from market research firms the Conference Board and TNS.
In a survey of 10,000 households during the third quarter of 2008, approximately one-fifth of respondents with Internet access reported watching TV online, more than double the number reported two years ago.
Content is most frequently accessed on the network Web site of the TV show or on YouTube, the survey said. Respondents also said they access shows via iTunes, Hulu, file-sharing Web sites like Limewire, and social networking sites.
Very few of those surveyed said they'd be willing to enroll in pay-per-download or subscription services.
Internet TV is an attractive option because viewers can watch shows at their leisure, in most cases skip commercials and watch on-the-go, according to the report.
“Most consumers are pressed for time and require flexibility in their daily schedules and TV viewing habits," Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, said in a statement. “Being able to watch broadcasts on their own time and at their convenience are clearly reasons why we are seeing a greater number turning to the Internet. And, it is the reason why we would expect to see this trend continue."
In a survey of 10,000 households during the third quarter of 2008, approximately one-fifth of respondents with Internet access reported watching TV online, more than double the number reported two years ago.
Content is most frequently accessed on the network Web site of the TV show or on YouTube, the survey said. Respondents also said they access shows via iTunes, Hulu, file-sharing Web sites like Limewire, and social networking sites.
Very few of those surveyed said they'd be willing to enroll in pay-per-download or subscription services.
Internet TV is an attractive option because viewers can watch shows at their leisure, in most cases skip commercials and watch on-the-go, according to the report.
“Most consumers are pressed for time and require flexibility in their daily schedules and TV viewing habits," Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, said in a statement. “Being able to watch broadcasts on their own time and at their convenience are clearly reasons why we are seeing a greater number turning to the Internet. And, it is the reason why we would expect to see this trend continue."
