More Italy IP Communications Stories

What a difference 3,000 miles makes.

 

While here in the United States, studies have emerged that Internet TV watching is on the rise – so that the number U.S. households who use the Web to watch TV broadcasts increased 100 percent from 2006 to 2008 – a Dallas-based research firm reported today that Europeans are showing some reluctance in adopting online viewing.

 

According to Parks Associates, broadband has indeed transformed video viewing habits in Western Europe, where more than 30 percent of broadband households have watched a film or TV program online in the past six months.

 

Yet, according to the firm, for all the countries surveyed – the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, and France – more than 80 percent of broadband households prefer a more traditional option for viewing video, including going to a theater or watching a DVD. Many consumers are watching video online only because of the availability of free content, both legitimate and illegitimate, the firm says.

 

Here’s a look at how a big chunk of major European nations breaks down (click on the image to enlarge):

 

 

The Old Country’s ability to hold back marks a stark contrast from us Yanks.

 

As TMCnet reported, a pair of Manhattan-based agencies – The Conference Board, a nonprofit organization, and market research firm TNS (News - Alert) – say that a majority of U.S. consumers require flexibility in order to circumvent programmed TV and see what they want.

 

“Being able to watch broadcasts on their own time and at their convenience are clearly reasons why we are seeing a greater number turning to the Internet,” said the director of the board’s consumer research center, Lynn Franco. “And, it is the reason why we would expect to see this trend continue.”

 

The top five types of shows viewed online in the United States are news, drama, comedy, reality shows and sports, with user generated content following close behind, the report says.

 

Among U.S. consumers connecting to online broadcasts, 43 percent tune into the news, 39 percent watch drama shows, 34 percent view comedies shows, 23 percent watch reality shows, 16 percent view sports, and 15 percent view user generated content. Other categories attracting viewers include previews, additional content from favorite shows, soap operas and advertisements, officials say.

 

But our enthusiasm apparently doesn’t cross the Atlantic.

 

According to Parks Associates’ (News - Alert) new white paper, The Impact of Online Video in Europe, it will be difficult for companies to sell video streams and downloads to consumers in Europe when there’s this undercurrent of reluctanc.

 

“Even if all piracy issues are resolved, the realities of consumer preferences could still undermine the service plans of content providers, if they don’t understand their customers,” said John Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates.