One In Five Households Watch TV Online

A new study by the Conference Board and TNS shows that one on five US households that use the Internet also watch TV online. That’s twice the number recorded just two years ago, according to Information Week.

So why has Internet TV become so popular? Convenience is the main reason, the ability to watch shows any time – but also from anywhere, and to be able to avoid commercials.

In a statement, Michael Saxon, senior VP of brand and communications at TNS, noted:

"The shift from appointment TV to content on demand is well underway. Fundamentally, consumers expect content to be available when they want it, and on the screen of their choice — TV, PC, or mobile.

"For consumers, PCs enhance content on demand from simply time-shifting to place-shifting. Online content can be viewed in any room in the house, or at work or school."

Most people – around 90% – watch from home, 15% in the office, and 6% elsewhere (some watch from multiple locations, hence the quirk in the figures). News attracts the most viewers, with 43%, followed closely by drama shows, pulling 39%.
68% of viewers watch streaming video, and YouTube grabs 41% of viewers, with network homepages attracting 65%.