Almost one out of three German TV viewers (31%) uses video-on-demand (VOD) services, for example the catch-up TV portals operated by TV broadcasters.
A growing number of users access several catch-up TV services. While in 2013, only 11% of viewers used four or more catch-up TV portals, the share has grown to 18% this year. The figures are results of the TNS Convergence Monitor 2014 for which the market researchers from TNS interviewed 1,500 people between 14 and 64 years of age.
HDTV is also becoming more popular: Within the past 12 months, the usage of commercial HD channels on cable networks has grown from 18% to 24% despite viewers having to pay an additional monthly subscription fee for access. Kabel Deutschland, one of the companies commissioning the study, now distributes a total of 67 HD channels on its network.
TV consumption also becomes more independent of the TV set: 44% of respondents said that – with their TV set, smartphones and tablets – they own more than 4 devices through which they can watch TV content.
Kabel Deutschland wants to react to the trend towards mobile television with the launch of a TV app enabling TV consumption at home on the tablet and smartphone. With Horizon Go, Unitymedia Kabel BW already offers its cable customers such a solution.
