VOD and DVRs now “core components” of pay TV

76% of US households have a digital video recorder, subscribe to Netflix or use VOD from a cable or Telcom provider, according to new research from Leichtman Research Group – with 26% of households using two of the services and 11% using all three.

Based on a survey of more than 1,200 households throughout the US, the research also found that 62% of households that subscribe to a pay TV service have a DVR (up from 41% five years ago), while 1% of pay TV non-subscribers have a DVR. In addition, 55% of households with a DVR now have DVR service on more than one TV set, up from 28% five years ago.

The research revealed that 36% of pay TV subscribers get Netflix, compared with 48% of non-subscribers, with 36% of all Netflix subs streaming video on a daily basis, and 72% weekly – up from 10% daily and 43% weekly in 2010.

“While VOD and DVRs were relatively nascent when this series of studies began, they are now core components of pay-TV packages,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group.

“Along with Netflix and other over-the-top offerings, these on-Demand TV services have permanently changed the options of how people may choose to watch TV.”