Around 57 percent of UK residents watch up to 10 hours or more of on-demand TV or recorded TV each week. Time-shifters typically watch three hours of on-demand TV each week either instead of, or on top of, their regular television viewing time.
Research carried out on behalf of Redback Networks of YouGov, also found that more women (58 percent) watched on-demand or recorded TV than men (55 percent). The 55+ and 18-24 age groups made most use of on-demand and recorded TV, while 25-34 year-olds make least use of these types of services.
The most popular form of watching recorded programmes was via Sky+ (22 percent), PRVs or VHS machines (27 percent). The survey also found that Internet TV and video are quickly becoming established as regular channels for consuming video content, changing the viewing habits and experience for a new generation of viewers.
Around 11 percent of respondents use on-demand TV services, whilst 16 percent use internet catch up services, such as the BBC iPlayer or 4oD. In all, just under half of UK residents (48 percent) that have Internet access have watched video or TV online. Of these, 70 percent use the Internet for on-demand viewing.
"While the good old VHS recorder has created audience demand for time-shifted TV programmes, it is new game-changing Internet video services such as the BBC iPlayer which are reshaping how carriers upgrade their networks over time," said Philip Wilton, Director of Sales and Operations in the UK for Redback Networks. "This growth of video over broadband is reflected in what also we're back hearing from our service provider, customers, with HTTP streaming traffic now outstripping P2P for downloading video content. Where Internet video was just about sharing content via P2P networks, it's now moved into the mainstream with viewers able to consume time shifted content direct from content provider, placing new strains on the network and the traffic it supports."
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