British TV Viewers use Web and Mobile Phones to Watch

Increasing numbers of British people watch TV through their mobile phone or through the internet (via a PC or laptop). Continental Research estimate that 2.6M people have either downloaded a TV programme or watched it live on the internet, and 900,000 have watched TV via their mobile phone. Indeed, downloading TV programmes via the internet is becoming 'habitual' according to the company's "Convergence Report Spring 2006".

Of those who download TV programmes, some 29% do so at least once a week. The types of programmes that are downloaded most are popular American TV shows such as Lost (the most watched downloaded programme), CSI, Desperate Housewives and The Simpsons, all dominating the list ahead of leading British shows such as Life on Mars and Little Britain.

James Myring, associate director at Continental Research, said: 'Given the popularity of downloading first music and now films via the internet, there is every reason to predict that downloading TV will grow rapidly in importance. Watching live TV over the internet remains more occasional.' (19% do so at least once a week, according to the findings.)

Predictions of rapid growth come from the research participants too: 40% say that watching downloaded programmes will increase, and 25% say watching TV live via the internet will increase. And as the amount of content grows in quantity and quality, it will likely fuel the trend.

The company notes that downloading TV programmes via a mobile phone continues to be handicapped by the same constraints that limit mobile internet, namely a small screen size and incomplete content compared to the ‘real thing’ (i.e. standard TV/ internet). 'There may be significant experimentation, but it is habitual use that will make it commercially viable. It is also worth recalling that miniature TV’s never became popular.'

A convergence technology with potential to become mass market is VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), says the report. Though there are teething problems – 29% of those using VoIP are dissatisfied with the sound quality - but technical problems should reduce over time.

'Looking ahead, a logical step would be a combination of VoIP and Wi-Fi enabling very cheap internet calls to be made outside the home. Coverage would not be comprehensive, but if costs are low this may be acceptable to many. This could become a threat to the mobile networks.'

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