THE use of catch-up or on-demand (VOD) television services such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Player now accounts for a fifth of the nation’s TV viewing, according to figures released by the market research agency, YouGov.
According to a survey of UK-wide TV habits, during a typical week, the average Brit claims to watch 16 hours of live TV per week, plus just under nine hours of recorded TV and around six hours of catch-up TV.
By age, the online study, which involved over 2,000 adults, also found that, among 18-24 year-olds, on-demand viewing rises to nine hours and 20 minute during a typical week, with live TV taking up a further 11 hours and recorded TV a further ten.
According to parents of under-16s, who were questioned as part of the survey, their kids watch on average seven hours of catch-up per week. And for the over-55s, it is estimated that catch-up makes up 14 per cent of their viewing time.
Among other figures revealed in the survey: While three-quarters (77 per cent) of those questioned still use their main TV the most, the average home now has four different devices (including their main TV) on which they can watch TV, which is just over double the number they had five years ago. However, this rises to an average of six devices for the 18-24 year olds questioned.
Carried out by YouGov for on-demand TV service, YouView, the study also found that while the average home records around ten programmes in a typical week, they delete four of those on average without watching them – with entertainment the mostly likely (36 per cent) to be binned, followed by films (32 per cent) and documentaries (32 per cent).
It also found that, across the country, alongside their TV, 57 per cent of those questioned said they use their computer to watch television content, 14 per cent do so through a games console like the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 and 25 per cent access TV on a tablet – with iPad and iPad mini the favourite, at 19 per cent, versus six per cent for Android models.
Spending on subscription TV services has also increased by around 40 per cent in five years, with the average household monthly payment now £29.89. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) spend more than £50 per month. TV-related downloads also account for £1.56 per month from iTunes or the Google Play Store, with men spending £2.03 versus £1.13 for women.
Other figures:
* 1hr 49mins of TV is claimed to be watched out of the home each week (eg while commuting or travelling);
* Just under one in ten (nine per cent) men claim they use a device to watch TV at work during a lunch break;
* Almost one in ten (nine per cent) people claim they used a computer most often to view TV;
* 46 per cent would like the ability to watch programmes whenever they like without waiting for an initial broadcast;
* Around a fifth (21 per cent) would like the ability to create a more personalised programme guide;
* 30 per cent still tend to use a printed TV guide to find out what’s on television;
* 55 per cent have purchased a new television as their main set during the last three years;
* 17 per cent of respondents claim to have bought a new TV during the last year – the same number who’ve had theirs at least five years;
* The most common TV size is 32-inch with 24 per cent who have a TV in their household owning one. Just under a fifth (19 per cent) have a 42-inch television;
* Just over one in ten (11 per cent) claim that they now own a television over 46 inches or more;
* 46 per cent have an HD-ready TV but don’t currently watch any HD content;
* ten per cent think their household will buy a 4K TV within the next two-to-three years; and
* 29 per cent claim to watch TV in the bedroom (32 per cent male versus 27 per cent female).
Source: YouGov, July 1 2013. Read the full set of results, here.
