Four-fifths of internet users aged 16 and over in Hungary watch movies and videos online.
Furthermore, according to market research undertaken by the regulator NMHH, 84% also watch films online and others also watch movies downloaded from the internet. In addition, 10% watch movies while travelling or at work.
Every third internet user has a subscription to a streamed movie service, while one in four downloads movies acquired by others and uploaded to the internet.
NMHH notes that as this is not legal in many cases, according to the respondents, every tenth internet user tends to use international and every fifth Hungarian torrent sites. Rather than accessing torrents or legal but paid streaming services such as HBO Go or Telekom TV Go, at least a third of Hungarians nevertheless prefer to watch free streamed video services.
One in four do not torrent but subscribe to a legal channel, one in six usually only get movies from torrent sites, and one in eight have not stopped torrenting in addition to their streaming subscription.
Interestingly, 3% of internet users do not opt for any of these options, instead watching movies that others download for them from the net. An eighth of internet users do not watch movies and videos on the internet.
Most respondents (66%) still prefer a large screen when watching films, while two-thirds watch movies on smartphones.
The study also found that the Y generation, in their 20s, are most likely watch torrents, while the high school generation are above average in having either a subscription or watching torrents.