Advanced Television

US consumers more connected to TV sets than ever

November 23, 2011

American consumers continue to expand the number of devices and platforms they use to view TV shows and movies, yet report no significant change in the total time they spend watching on the traditional TV set.

An annual study of consumer video consumption habits conducted by Frank N Magid Associates reveals that while more than 50 per cent of online consumers watch TV shows and movies online at least occasionally, there is still growth in their use of On Demand, DVR, and DVD options. According to Magid, the more alternative platforms that consumers use, the more they tend to spend on traditional TV subscription services.

Notably, says Magid, satisfaction with HD service is at an all-time high among customers of pay-TV providers, including cable, satellite, and telco TV.

TV purchase intentions have climbed back to near pre-recession levels. Forty percent of consumers indicate they will shop for a new TV set in the next year. The proportion shopping for a new primary TV is up to 28 per cent from a low of 23 per cent in 2009.

Superior display, wide-screen format, and Internet connectivity top the list of TV set features in greatest demand. In fact, an impressive 62 per cent of TV shoppers said Internet connectivity is an important factor in their decision to purchase a new TV.

Consumers have been streaming TV shows and movies to the TV screen enabled by a very diverse set of devices, including game consoles, computers, streaming specific devices like Apple TV and Blu-ray players, so an Internet-connected Smart TV is the desirable next step,” said Maryann Baldwin, Vice President, Magid Media Futures, and author of Magid’s tenth annual survey of consumer video entertainment behaviours and attitudes across traditional and emerging platforms.

Magid reports that consistent with the demand for high-quality displays, the intention to purchase HDTV sets continues to run strongest, while the proportion of those who plan to buy a 3DTV set has dropped significantly over the past year, from 67 per cent to 49 per cent of all TV shoppers. Three per cent of households now own a 3DTV set.

Categories: Articles, Connected TV, Consumer Behaviour, Equipment, Markets, OTT, Research, UHD