• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, January 8, 2009

According to new data from Mediamark Research & Intelligence, (MRI), downloading TV programs, watching online videos and making online phone calls posted the biggest year-to-year percent increase among adult Internet users. E-mail, news gathering, and paying bills online continue to be among the most widely used Internet activities by U.S. consumers ages 18+.

According to responses from MRI's just released Fall 2008 Survey of the American Consumer, 3.2% of adults said they had downloaded a TV program in the previous 30 days. That represents a year-to-year increase of 141.4%. The number of adults who reported they watched online video increased 35.4% during the same period, to a total of 23.3% of the adult population, while 4.0% of respondents reported they had made an online phone call, an increase of 32.0%.

The Internet activities engaged in by the greatest number of adults were: 

• Use of e-mail (74.2%)
• Obtaining news (46%)
• Paying bills online (39.6%)

 The fall 2008 data include four new Internet activities:

• Sharing photos (done by one in four adults in the last 30 days) 
• Sending electronic greeting cards (9% of adults)
• Watching a live TV program online (5.3% of the U.S. adult population)
• Uploading or adding video to a Web site (4.1% of adults) 

Internet Activities in Previous 30 Days(U.S. Adults with Access to the Internet)
	% All Adults Fall 2008	% Change From Fall 2007
Used E-mail	74.2%	+5.2%
Obtained the Latest News/Current Events	46.0	+9.8
Paid Bills Online	39.6	+15.3
Made a Purchase for Personal Use	37.2	+7.8
Used Instant Messenger	29.7	+23.6
Obtained Financial Information	28.3	+9.6
Obtained Sports News/Information	28.1	+10.6
Shared Photos Through Internet Website	25.4	N/A
Looked for Recipes	24.8	+24.8
Played Games Online	24.6	+8.0
Watched Online Video	23.3	+35.4
Downloaded Music	21.6	+9.6
Made Personal or Business Travel Plans	20.5	+3.6
Obtained Medical Information	19.9	+4.3
Looked up Movie Listings or Show Times	19.7	+16.8
Visited a TV network's or TV show's website	18.7	+15.4
Looked for Employment	15.3	+23.6
Tracked Investments/Traded Stocks, Bonds or Mutual Funds	13.2	+14.7
Listened to Radio on the Internet	13.1	+10.4
Obtained Information about Real Estate	12.9	+5.4
Made a Purchase for Business Use	11.4	+3.4
Visited Online Blogs	11.0	+17.9
Obtained Information for a New Car Purchase	10.6	No change
Sent an Electronic Greeting Card	9.0	N/A
Looked at TV Listing Online	7.7	+5.9
Obtained Childcare or Parenting Information	5.3	+12.7
Watched A Live TV Program	5.3	N/A
Wrote an Online Blog	4.3	+16.3
Uploaded or Added Video to a Website	4.1	N/A
Made a Phone Call Online	4.0	+32.0
Downloaded a Podcast	3.8	+22.1
Downloaded a TV Program	3.2	+141.4
Source: MRI's Fall 2008 and Fall 2007 Survey of the American Consumer

Anne Marie Kelly, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Strategic Planning, concludes that "... virtually all activities... including mainstream ones such as using email... have shown growth in the last year... about one-half of the highlighted activities have enjoyed double-digit growth." 

For more information, please visit MRI here.