A multi-screen future for on demand TV

The number of adults in Britain watching TV on demand via TV sets and mobile devices is growing, while on demand viewing via a desktop or laptop computer has peaked, according to newly released insight from Kantar Media’s futurePROOF study.

It found that, while the overall percentage of adults watching television on demand has remained consistent across the year at 47%, there has been a shift in the devices used for viewing.

The number of adults in Britain viewing content on demand through a TV set has increased by 16% over the course of 2012. The number of adults viewing via tablets has doubled over the same period while mobile viewing has increased by 39%.

The most common screen for on demand TV viewing is the television (33% of adults have watched on demand through a TV set in the last month) followed by laptop/desktop computers (20%), tablets (5%) and mobile phones (5%).

Viewing via mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, is growing, in part because of increasing ownership of the devices but also because mobile viewing fulfils a different need. These screens, although smaller, give access to TV content where the TV set is not available.

Trevor Vagg, Director of Kantar Media Custom comments: “This demonstrates the range of screens viewers are now using to watch TV on demand but the best experience and most comfortable way to watch, is usually in front of a TV set. Aggressive promotion of the availability of on demand services through TV sets has accompanied wider availability of 7-day catch up and on demand viewing via the TV looks set to grow further, as more services are set to launch.”

Qualitative research conducted as part of futurePROOF highlighted that mobile TV viewing is a time-filling activity. Short content is therefore particularly popular, with 30 minute comedy or soap episodes and YouTube videos leading the way. Downloaded content also proves popular, allowing users to ‘playlist’ their favourite shows and avoid connection issues.