TV Sets Are Connected To Internet In 38% of Homes [ Edited ]

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

Here is an excerpt from interesting article on Multichannel News found in the link below:

Nearly two-fifths (38%) of all U.S. households have at least one television set connected to the Internet, up from 30% last year and 24% two years ago, according to a new study from Leichtman Research Group.

The TVs could be sets with their own connection or could be connected via a videogame system, Blu-ray Disc player, Apple TV or Roku set-top box. These findings are based on a survey of 1,251 households nationwide that was primarily conducted in February 2012 and are part of a new LRG study, "Emerging Video Services VI."

In another sign of the growing importance of game consoles in delivering video into the homes, videogame systems were the primary connection, with 28% of all households owning a video game system connected to the Internet. Just 4% of all households are connected solely via an Internet-enabled TV set, and Apple TV or Roku set-tops are the only connected devices in 1% of all households.

While the study found growing penetration of connected devices, it did not find that this shift in viewing patterns was reducing multichannel subscriptions.

Overall, 1.6% of households were not subscribing to a multichannel-video service but had previously subscribed to one in the past year. In addition, just 0.1% of the respondents who dropped service in the past year and do not plan to subscribe again in the next six months told researchers that they don't subscribe to pay-TV because of Netflix or because they can watch all that they want on the Internet or in other ways.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/482912-TV_Sets_Are_Connected_To_Internet_In_38_of_Homes.php

[oz_1 ACE - Wizard]

I am seeing this in my line of work I guess people are not wanting to pay for a package to view the few things they actually watch.

[JefferMC ACE - Wizard]

While an interesting statistic, I'm wondering how many of these 38% are actually using that Internet connection to provide direct entertainment programming, e.g. My home's Wii is connected to the Internet for downloading of firmware updates and the rare game download, but never used Netflix.  The PS2 has a network card, but it has never been used in anger, as far as I know.  So, while I am part of that 38%, I don't feel I represent the audience that they're describing.

[oufanindallas]

My next tv I get will have to be one that has Netflix on it or I won't bother with it. I like not having to hook up my wife's iPad to watch Netflix on the tv.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

As cheap as BluRay players have become, just buy one of those with Internet connectivity (and Netflix).

TV providers are aware of this connectivity, and it's cutting into their offerings.  I bet the younger set doesn't have TV at home if they're anything like what I see on Wireless!

[oufanindallas]

I have a perfectly working BD player and don't foresee buying one in the near future unless that one goes out.  Depending on which one is might have an impact on what type of tv set I get.  I would like to have fewer devices connected to the tv as possible as to not have the cords to worry about.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

We had a BRD player with Netflix/Blockbuster, but returned it.  No interest in BR and re-buying our movie collection (some of which are still not in BR format).