Results of a survey released last week from IBM revealed that the number of hours U.S. respondents spent daily using the Internet for personal reasons is overtaking the time spent watching television.
Additionally, the survey found a large percentage of respondents who said they’ve watched or want to watch PC video.
The survey, “U.S. Consumer Research Digital Entertainment & Media April 2007,” from the IBM Institute for Business Value, revealed 17 percent of respondents said they used the Internet from home or during personal time at work between four and six hours a day. Those who used the Internet more than six hours daily accounted for 26 percent of respondents.
The survey found 16 percent reported watching TV four to six hours, and another 16 percent watched more than six hours. Respondents reporting Internet and TV usage at the two- to four-hour level daily were nearly identical, 32 percent and 31 percent, respectively.
IBM also conducted research internationally to gain a global perspective. There too, the time spent using the Internet rivals TV time. On a global basis, 19 percent reported spending six or more hours daily on personal Internet use compared to 9 percent who said they spent that much time watching television.
When it came to watching video on their PCs, the survey found 58 percent of U.S. consumers reported having done so, and 20 percent, while not, said they are interested in doing so.
For more information, visit: www.ibm.com/iibv.
