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  • 15
  • Sep

Rubbish VoD Services Making Pirates of Us All...

Complex navigation, incomplete libraries and an utterly confusing array of competiting services are pushing law abiding TV downloaders into the arms of online pirates.

A survey by Essential Reasearch has confirmed what we here at Download Monkey have always said. In fact, it's the reason we started this site.

It seems that when it comes to VoD,consumers are being driven to illegal file-sharing services such as The Pirate Bay when they can't find the content they want on big-brand sites such on the iPlayer, SkyPlayer or 4OD.

This confusion is seen as the single biggest hurdle for VoD and is holding back the take up of all services.

The report says consumers "expect an integrated approach of delivery" and care far more about being able to find the content than the platform they watch it on. There is also an "an overwhelming demand" for a consolidated VoD service and most consumers expected VoD services to be free.

It seems that consumers explore less VoD content without good, solid recommendation systems, and the brand of individual shows is vastly more important than any channel brand.

On the plus side, Essential says broadcasters can use VoD to reach out to new audiences, get viewers more engaged with shows and distribute more specialised content to a wider audience rather than burying it in TV graveyard slots.

And while highlighting some teething problems, the report paints a positive picture for the future of VoD services.

Though they will not watch more TV, VoD viewers will become more appealing to advertisers, who will be able to reach targeted groups of users who are more engaged with the material they choose to watch than "passive" linear television viewers.

By toggle Tagged: Discuss in the forums
  • 20
  • May

VoD and Sky+ Drive Next Generation TV

A new survey has for the first time exposed the huge growth in popularity of on-demand TV and Internet video.

In a survey of UK  2168 online adults the research showed that more than half of UK residents (57%) watch up to 10 hours or more of on-demand TV or recorded TV each week. This is TV that either supplements or replaces broadcast TV viewing.

The same survey also found that women watched more on-demand or recorded TV than men (58% vs. 55%). Seniors (55+) and young adults (18-24) watched the most on-demand or recorded TV (60%); 25-34 year-olds watched the least (51%).

The most common methods for recording programmes in the UK were Sky+ (22%), personal video recorders, and VHS machines (27%).

On demand services are also used for later recorded viewing. 11% use On demand TV services, whilst 16% use internet catch up services, such as the BBC iPlayer.

The survey, carried out by YouGov looked at the changing habits of TV viewers across the UK. The survey also examined today's consumer habits across different media platforms and devices including TVs, PCs and mobile phones.

The primary findings of the survey were:

More than half (57%) of all UK residents 'time-shift' their TV viewing, using on-demand TV services or recording live television for viewing later.
Of the 57% who time-shift content, about one-third watch at least three hours of on-demand TV per week.
About half of online UK residents (48%) have watched video or TV on the Internet, with the vast majority using Internet-based TV services for on-demand viewing (70%).
Of that 48%, 22% have watched Internet TV or video over the past 7 days.

The survey also found that Internet TV and video are quickly becoming established as regular channels for consuming video content, changing the viewing habits and experience for a new generation of viewers.

Of those who have watched Internet TV or video, the survey found that:
They expressed a clear preference for better Internet video content (56%),
Better Internet TV quality (47%), and
The desire to watch more Internet video on TV rather than the computer (38 percent).
Most people watch Internet TV or video in their home office or study (68%), followed by a communal room at home (39%) and then at work (20%).

The biggest drivers which would encourage more people to watch Internet TV or video are:
More free content available (56%),
Quality of picture (47%) and
The ability to watch Internet video on a TV screen, rather than a computer (38%).

In terms of content:
News (24%)
Entertainment (27%) and
Short videos (42%)
are the most popular type of content to watch on computer rather than on TV.
Just 9% of people use their mobile phone or PDA to watch Internet TV or video.

By toggle Tagged: , , , , , , Discuss in the forums
  • 14
  • May

Paris Hilton Hits Online TV "VOD is soooo hot..."

It was only a matter of time 'til the almost omnipresent Paris Hilton hit the world of Online TV. But this time she's bringing the whole family.

For Your Imagination  - a startup that also hosts the excellent Break A Leg will start showing A Day With The Hiltons - a show following a mother/daughter pair of competition winners as they spend a day with the whole Hilton clan, Paris, Kathy and Nicky doing Hilton-y type things around LA.

Is mainstream lowbrow reality TV co-opting a medium that has been generally the realm of tween and nerd focused shows a good thing? Hit the forums to discuss...

Via the excellent NewTeeVee

 

By Tom Webster Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , Discuss in the forums

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