• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, September 2, 2007

Even the Wireless Prefer Connected TV New research recently released by CTAM says that seventy percent of 17-23 year olds who are said to be the most connected generation ever with MP3 players, cell phones and laptops, prefer watching television on a traditional set.

While college students report watching 16.6 hours of programming, the computer plays an important role in their viewing habits, with 21% of their video viewing on a computer. This includes 10% who use their computers to view television programs online and 11% who report watching video clips on sites such as YouTube and MySpace.

The research also says that U.S. college students are also choosing cable services over satellite and telco providers:

• Seventy-nine percent of college students living off campus, who have a choice in their service provider, subscribe to cable
• Seven percent of those living off campus subscribe to satellite
• Two percent to video services from their telephone company

Cable is also the preferred provider for Internet services:

• 65% of students living off campus report that they have cable high-speed Internet
• 26% report subscribing to DSL high-speed Internet

Char Beales, president and CEO of CTAM, says "College students are trend setters -- a bellwether on technology and media consumption. Even as these viewers are adopting the latest, innovative products, they continue to hold on to the tried and true services offered by cable."

Those sharing content shake out like this:

• 89% of college students report they have shared video content, most often on their computers
• 84% report having sent content to others on their computers
• 74% report that they have sent content via cell phone
• 76% have received content via cell phone
• 75% have sent, and 76% have received, content via MP3 players/portable media devices

For more information from the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM), please visit this site.