• Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Media Info
    • Terms & Conditions for Advertisers
    • Mechanical Data

Broadband TV News

Independent. Since 2003

  • Home
  • News Line
    • Central & East Europe
    • People
  • TV
    • On Demand/VOD
    • IPTV
    • Cable
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
    • Distribution
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Columns
    • Chris Dziadul
    • Julian Clover
    • Robert Briel
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • Features
  • Resources
    • White Papers

US viewers opt for free TV streaming

February 5, 2013 21.04 Europe/London By Broadband TV News Correspondent

Traditional pay TV operators and broadcast networks still dominate the consumer television landscape, but US viewers start to turn to new options, from subscription video on demand (SVOD), to electronic sell-through (EST), to free TV streaming.

While SVOD drives the most online TV streams by far, the incidence of consumers who used SVOD and free streaming in 2012 was relatively equal. According to NPD’s “Free Streaming TV” report, 12% of U.S. TV watchers reported streaming TV shows for free during the prior three months, compared to 14% who watched a TV show via SVOD.

“Over half of the viewers for streaming TV are between the ages of 18 and 34, so the YouTube generation is evolving from short-form and user-generated content to TV shows and, like YouTube, they can watch where and when they want,” said Russ Crupnick, SVP of industry analysis at NPD. “Despite the attention lavished on tablets and phones, an astonishing 83% of free TV streaming programs are viewed on a computer.”

Nearly all broadcast and cable TV networks offer free streaming of their programming via the internet; however, based on NPD’s latest information, consumer usage of free-streaming TV sites varies. Hulu.com dominated free streaming TV, accounting for 43% of total streams during 2012.

After Hulu, the five broadcast network sites (CBS.com, ABC.com, FOX.com, NBC.com, and CWTV.com) accounted for another 30% of total streams. Four cable TV sites — abcfamily.com, comedycentral.com, MTV.com, and A&ETV.com — round out the top-ten free streaming TV sites.

NPD’s research shows that streaming consumers are very satisfied overall with the experience. All of the top 10 free streaming sites have strong consumer feedback with 75% or more of each of these site’s users reporting that they intend to return to the site in the future.

Hulu.com, in particular, has very committed users, given that two-thirds say that they “definitely” will return to the site. These free sites generally perform well on convenience and site organisation. Most of them also perform well on current release availability; however, Fox.com streamers rate the site much lower on this measure, due to the fact that Fox generally delays availability of its programming.

“The consumer response to program availability on Fox, speaks to the often-controversial question of whether the audience detects shows that are windowed,” Crupnick said.

Based on NPD’s findings, the shift toward internet video distribution drives a more complex and diverse set of content and purchase and rental options to consumers. With it comes a more diverse set of direct and indirect competitors among movie studios and TV networks, as well as their TV and digital distribution partners.

According to Crupnick, “from the consumer perspective, it is important to monitor the habits and perceptions of the audience as all of these distribution models evolve, which will help align programming to the target audience and inform whether consumers are responding positively to the experience these options provide.”

Free streaming TV chart

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Newsline, Research, Web TV Tagged With: Hulu, The NPD Group, US Edited: 6 February 2013 11:14

Latest News

  • Culture Secretary says she’s sharing her Netflix account with four others
  • Choice of platform impacts on the effectiveness of ads
  • Noel Tovey named MD at Sky Studios Elstree
  • Norway’s TV 2 Play available to Telia customers at no extra cost
  • Hisense integrates HD+ into smart TVs via HbbTV OpApp

Watch Video

In Conversation: Smart Routers mean Smart Homes

In the first edition of In Conversation, Julian Clover discusses how smart routers are evolving to serve the smart home with Stuart Griffin, Founder & Technologist, Consult Red. … [Webinar Replay...]

Q & A

OTT Question Time – now in association with Broadband TV News

Kauser Kanji, MD of VOD Professional, introduces the industry forum OTT Question Time. … [Read More]

Free Ebook

eBook: Overcoming the Top 5 Challenges in Server-side IP Ad insertion

IP video is a game-changer for advertising. However, unlike traditional television, IP video is more dynamic, with new devices, formats, content and services to consider. … [Download the eBook...]

Broadband TV News

  • Subscribe
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Logos & Pictures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Advertising

  • Media Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Mechanical Data
  • Video Services

News

  • Latest
  • Central & East Europe
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Streaming
  • Cable
  • Satellite
  • Terrestrial
  • IPTV
  • Business
  • People

Events

  • Events Diary
  • BTN Events
  • Submit the details of your event
  • Media Meet & Greet

Broadband TV News

PO Box 499
Cambridge
United Kingdom
CB1 0AH
news@broadbandtvnews.com

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2022 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in

 

Loading Comments...