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New research indicates that the long-held promise of TV/Internet convergence is gaining traction, albeit slowly. Leichtman Research Group data shows that just over 24% of all U.S. homes have a Web-to-TV connection, while 5% of adults are watching YouTube and Hulu on their TV screens each week.
Leichtman data measured homes with Web-TV connections via video game and Blu-ray systems, as well as compatible TVs. Add in homes that can connect with a TiVo, Roku player or computer, and the amount is estimated to come in just north of 24%.
The TiVo device is in a modest number of homes, but the company did release a new "Premiere"-branded product this week that can transfer Web video to the television, among other capabilities.
Leichtman research shows that while 5% of adults watch Web video on the TV weekly, the figure is just 1% on a daily basis. Since game consoles are so widespread, the viewing is largely among young men. Among men ages 18 to 34, 16% are viewing Web video on the big screen weekly via a console, Blu-ray or compatible TV.
The findings come from a survey of 1,250 U.S. homes.
Research from the Yankee Group shows that 23% of homes with an HDTV set have the ability to link the Internet to that screen. Still, only 5% of all homes are watching Internet video on TV.
There have been suggestions that the opportunity to watch video from YouTube, Hulu, ESPN360, CBS Sports and a slew of other sites on a large TV screen could prompt people to cancel a cable or satellite subscription.
But Bruce Leichtman, who conducted the research, said that's unlikely. The people with the Web-to-TV devices are likely to covet the typical run of TV channels and be willing to pay the price to keep a subscription.
"The last thing they're going to do is get rid of all those channels," he said.
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Suppose I offered you AAA (AnyThing,AnyTime, AnyWhere) on whatever device you happened to hold in your hand, or be near, and offered you a full spectrum of "screens" to view. What would that be worth?
Suppose I also offered Multiple Applications, AI driven, Always On, 24/7?
Suppose I said it would cost less than one-half of what the combination of Voice, Data, and Video now costs?
Think you'd be interested?
What's that you say? Where do you Click for Authorization?
Ask Google.
There is cable & internet convergence - I've had an Apple TV connection for more than a few years, but is it mainstream? Not yet - and as Jonathan points out without data on what people are watching, demographics etc...Plus, it's not a big trend that will support the new TVs that are coming out where you install widgets of internet content to view while watching regular TV - that model is too complex for the average TV viewer and who is going to buy a new TV this year? Didn't we just do that last year due to the change to FCC's mandatory DTV transition?
We got rid of out TV and just use our computer to watch TV.
We use our MAc-mini. We use Eye TV. We also don't need a DVD player etc. We have Itunes and DVd's just slide into the Mini.
We still use our cable provider. It's really great.
"the viewing is largely among young men" - and let me wager a guess as to what they're watching for free on the web as opposed to cable. There are stats here on how many people are watching web video on TV, but without data about what they're watching - it's pretty useless. I'm thinking it's not Kirstie Alley's BIG Life.