• February 12, 2002

Eighty million consumers, representing 35% of Americans ages 12 and older, have watched or listened to streaming media online, according to a new study by Arbitron Inc. and Edison Media Research. Just two years ago, only 24% of Americans said that they had ever used Internet audio or video. The study, “Internet VIII: Advertising vs. Subscription – Which Streaming Model Will Win?” also finds that "streamies," those who have watched or listened to streaming media online, are willing to pay subscription fees for the right mix of offerings. According to the study, four in 10 audio streamies said they would agree to pay a small fee for any of the following features: commercial-free content, audio of the highest quality (no pausing or "buffering") and content they couldn't find elsewhere. These and other new findings from the study will be presented during a live Webcast on Tuesday, February 26, at 12:00 Noon EST. Interested parties may access the free Webcast by logging onto www.arbitron.com or www.edisonresearch.com and following the instructions on the home page.