Consumers Prefer Movie Rentals to Downloads

By Geoff Duncan December 12, 2006

YouTube and other sites may be establishing the popularity of short Internet video clips, but when it comes to full-length movies, even video-savvy Internet users till prefer traditional TV and video rental offerings, according to ABI Research.

The new survey, “Broadband Video and Web Television End User Perceptions,” polled 1,725 online consumers age 18 and over via the Web during October 2006. The survey found that while as many as 7 in 10 online video users watch short clips such as excerpts from sporting events or news shows, movie downloads remain the least watched genre of online video, with just one in twenty online video users having rented or purchased a movie for download. More users indicated they’d downloaded a movie fro a peer-to-peer file sharing service, but even with those additions, movies remain the least watched form of online video on the Internet.

“The vast majority of those watching content online are watching short-form content such as news and sports clips,” said research director Michael Wolf in a release. “Older users in particular watch primarily news and sports, while younger users are watching more entertainment content, including viral media provided by sites such as YouTube.”

Nearly half of online users surveyed—48 percent—said they would never purchase a movie for download because they were happy with current media providers and the rental market. “Despite the growing interest in the pay market for Internet-delivered video, perhaps the biggest remaining hurdle to widespread adoption is that the status quo usually gives consumers a vastly superior, and often less expensive experience than Internet-delivered content,” said Wolf.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Web

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Audio / Video

Best Buy Spring sale: Save on 177 TVs, including a 50-inch for $230

Sony A80L 4K OLED TV.

Best Buy often has some of the best TV deals around but it’s excelling itself right now with a huge Spring sale cutting the prices on over 177 different TVs. There are some fantastic options here with super low priced HD TVs right up to high-end QLED and OLED models. Whatever your plan, you should tap the button below to see the full sale for yourself. Alternatively, keep reading while we pick out a few of our favorites.

What to shop for in the Best Buy TV Spring sale
One of the cheapest deals in the Best Buy TV Spring sale is being able to get an for only $230. It normally costs $300 so you’re saving $230 by buying today. The TV offers a large 4K display along with HDR for better colors and sharper contrast. It also has DTS Studio Sound while there are Alexa voice controls which tie in perfectly with Fire TV which powers proceedings. It’s perfect for a budget 4K TV.

Audio / Video

Q Acoustics’ new 3000c speakers target entry-level audiophiles

The new Q Acoustics 3000c speaker lineup.

It's been six years since Q Acoustics had the speaker world swooning over its formidable and affordable 3000i speaker series. But today, on the opening day of the elite High End Munich audio trade show in Germany, the British speaker maker finally announced the collection's latest generation, the Q Acoustics 3000c. And the good news is that they're still sexy-looking and still affordable.

"The 3000c is the perfect entry point into a modern audiophile world or as a cost-effective speaker upgrade," Q Acoustics says in its press release. And with prices ranging between $399 and $1,199, that statement might be right on the money. The 3000c collection is made up of five new models: the 3010c bookshelf, the 3020c and larger 3030c standmount models, the 3050c floorstanders, and the 3090 center channel for those wanting to set up a home theater.

Audio / Video

Best headphone deals: AirPods, Sony, Sennheiser and more

Beats Studio Pro sitting on travel case.

The best headphone deals are a great place to turn if you’ve got some music, movies, or other content that needs listening to. And if you’ve been shopping TV deals, gaming console deals, phone deals, or tablet deals, putting some of that savings toward a new set of headphones can be a worthy investment. There are a lot of savings available on headphones right now and they’re available on top brands, as the best headphone deals are made up of Beats headphone deals, AirPods deals, Bose headphone deals, and Sony headphone deals, among others. We’ve organized all of the best headphone deals worth shopping below, so read onward for the details.
Apple AirPods 2 -- $80, was $129

Apple has long been known for making premium tech products that please the eye aesthetically and produce a simple yet impactful user experience. This is true of the Apple AirPods 2, which, despite being a few years removed from their original release, still hold up as a great set of wireless earbuds. Just like their newer iteration, the Apple AirPods 3, the AirPods 2 produce high quality audio that pack a punch whether you’re playing games, listening to music, watching movies, or relaxing with a podcast. It has an H1 chip that delivers a stable wireless connection, and manages to produce high-quality sound far better than many other wireless headphones. Battery life is about as good as it gets, with the AirPods 2 offering up to five hours of listening time on one charge, and more than 24 hours with the included charging case.