More than one-third of adults would consider ditching their TV licence in favour of solely watching internet-reliant TV and video content according to a new online survey from Irish telecom and broadband provider, Pure Telecom.
The research, carried out by iReach in May 2016 on behalf of Pure Telecom, surveyed 1,000 online adults across Ireland.
The survey found that almost one-quarter (23%) of Irish households have abandoned paid TV services, such as satellite or cable, in the past five years due to an increase in viewing content online.
Some 37% intend to cancel their paid TV contracts in the next five years as they view more internet-reliant TV and video.
Eighty eight per cent of adults with a fixed-line broadband connection stream video content – increasing to 95% for millennials.
Of the adults who do not currently have a fixed-line broadband service at home (19%), almost one-third (31%) are likely to get one in the next five years with the sole purpose of accessing more video and TV content online.
All households must pay for a TV licence if they are in possession of a television set capable of receiving television broadcasts. However, Pure Telecom’s research found that as streaming channels continue to roll out their own top quality TV series and movies, people are reconsidering their annual €160 fee. TV licence revenue in 2015 was €214 million.
Millennials are the most likely to scrap their TV licence in favour of watching internet-only content, with 15% saying they intend to stop paying the fee in the next five years and a further 28% saying they would consider it.
Overall, of the 86% of online adults that pay for a TV licence, 36% said they will consider, or already intend on, ditching it in the next five years.
According to the survey, a typical person watches 5.5 hours of streamed and internet-driven video per week, with men watching 6.75 hours and women watching five hours. Millennials, meanwhile, watch eight hours, reflecting the growing phenomenon of ‘binge watching’ TV shows.
Director of Pure Telecom, Paul Connell said, "These results reflect what we have been seeing in Pure Telecom for the last few years – particularly in the past 12 months."
He added, "Media consumption is evolving and internet traffic is at an all-time high due to customers watching and downloading content online. Streaming channels are producing top quality original TV shows and movies, which people can watch at any time that suits them."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
