During the first quarter of 2009, about 30% of all Dutch watched at least ten online video streams from one of the public broadcasters or RTL Nederland, according to combined research by SKO (TV audience research) and STIR (online usage research).
Online video viewing is especially popular with people between 34 and 40 years old (40% ) and between 19 and 24 years (37%). Elderly people tend to watch less online with with 65+ showing only an 11% usage.
The research only shows usage of Uitzending Gemist, the catch-up TV service from the Dutch public broadcasters and that of RTL Gemist, the similar service for the four RTL channels. Other online viewing, such as YouTube, is not included.
The figures come to no surprise, as The Netherlands has by far the highest broadband penetration in Europe. Potential reach of broadband internet access with speeds of at least 50 Mbps is now 92.5%, mainly thanks to the wide availability of DOCSIS 3.0 on Dutch cable networks.
