Latest research gives an insight in to the future of television
Almost everyone in Britain claims that within five years they will be watching television via the internet or on a digital video recorder (DVR), according to new research from Rovi.
Around half of the total respondents (1000 people aged 20+ in the UK) already make use of DVRs, although viewing figures suggest that people are still watching as much television as ever. In an interesting debate about Canvas and Google TV at this year’s MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, Channel 4’s Sarah Rose said she is amazed that people aren’t watching less television than before with all the technology available (on-demand is still less than 8% of total TV viewing).
However, Rovi’s report suggests that the introduction of on-demand and time-shifted television may have changed viewing behaviour for good. They say one in every two people check before embarking on TV gossip now as 50% of Brits choose their own TV schedule.
Conversations around the latest shenanigans in the Big Brother house or who shot who in Eastenders will be a thing of the past, according to Rovi, as people don’t want to spoil the ‘TV surprise’.
Apparently, half of the survey’s respondents said they would object if someone started to talk about a programme they hadn’t yet viewed and a top “TV annoyance” is when someone discusses the outcome of a programme before they have watched it.
Today, almost half of the British population watch TV they’ve recorded on their set-top box, which respondents said allowed them more time to socialise or do other things, such as exercise.
The research suggests that Brits are keen for this to continue and enjoy creating their own TV schedule, although debates at MGEITF suggested that the concept of the ‘TV schdule’ will never die off completely as some people prefer to have choices made for them (a passive viewer).
Rovi said over 52% of viewers also feel that having a TV connected to the internet, which has been deemed the ‘next big thing’, even ahead of 3D TV, will also make their lives easier. However, ironically, Google’s chief Eric Schmidt recently sold Google’s new internet-enabled television service as: “Once you have Google Television you’re not going to be passive, you’re going to be very, very busy. It’s going to ruin your evening. That’s our strategy.”
At the moment, laptops are second to TV as the chosen device to view TV content and almost as popular as the TV for viewing films streamed from the internet. On average, 35% of the UK watch more TV on their mobile phones than they did two years ago too, according to Rovi.
And in terms of electronic programme guides, two-thirds of people currently plan their viewing using an EPG, while around 40% still use a magazine guide. Another survey, reported in informitv’s latest news bulletin, says that while most viewers use the EPG available, it has comparatively little influence over their choice of viewing and newspapers and magazines, as well as on-screen promotions and online sources, are still more important.
Rovi’s research also found that over half of respondents watch TV outside of their home; 20-25 year olds are twice as likely to watch TV on a home PC or laptop at 67% in comparison to 35-44 year olds at 33%; 25-30 year olds are also the age group most likely to watch TV on a tablet device; and TV recorded using a DVR service such as Sky+ of Virgin V+ is most popular with the 25-30 age group.