45% of Europeans Watching Television Online

Almost half of Europe is now regularly watching TV over the Internet, according to a new study by StrategyOne for Motorola’s Connected Home Solutions Division.

The company surveyed 2,500 broadband users across the UK, France, Germany and Spain about their use of video on demand and their predicted use of technology in the future.

The French emerged as the most enthusiastic nation for consuming video on demand, with 59% watching previews and episodes of their favourite shows over the web, while the British and Italians were next.

Germans appeared to be the least likely to watch television online, with only 33% claiming to use the service, preferring the traditional linear schedules.

“Viewers across Europe are no longer satisfied with fitting into schedules dictated by broadcasters and are turning to the choice and flexibility offered by TV over the internet,” said Motorola’s Karl Elliott. “We are witnessing a nation of citizen schedulers who are in control of their entertainment, allowing them to watch what they want, how and when they want it.”

Aside from viewing television programmes, the humble television set is now frequently being used for other tasks, according to the research, with users connecting an average of three different devices to their TV displays.

Nearly a third of all Europeans now attach a digital camera to view their photos, while 45% of users expect to be able to make telephone calls over their home TVs by the year 2012. In addition 35% of viewers want the ability to pause, fast forward or rewind live broadcast programming found in many digital video recorders.

Television over the internet has hit the headlines during the last week, as the BBC (see BBC Trust Gives iPlayer Final Approval), ITV (see ITV Invests £20m To Get Its Channels Online) and Channel 4 have each revealed details of their web television services, with new arrival to the market, Joost, also launching recently (see Joost Ready For Lift Off).

Motorola:www.motorola.com