Recorded TV trumps Live TV in Western Europe

MUMBAI: Consumers in Western Europe value multi device access to recorded TV programmes, over other new video services, including access to live TV, a new research has said.

Given a choice of new TV features, including 3DTV, online video access, and multiscreen services, 47 per cent of broadband households in Western Europe’s largest countries selected viewing recorded programmes on any Internet-connected device as one of their top three features.
 
By comparison, 30 per cent selected live TV as one of their top preferences, according to Parks Associates’ consumer study in Europe, Connected Consumer.

Preference for viewing recorded content on a computer, tablet, smartphone, or other Internet-connected device was consistent across all countries surveyed.

The greatest difference was among French households, with 51 per cent selecting recorded content versus 30 per cent picking live TV. 
 
Consumers in the UK valued both multiscreen services, with 48 per cent choosing recorded TV and 36 per cent selecting live TV, and multiscreen services overall were the least popular in German homes.

Parks Associates director research Brett Sappington said, “Multiscreen access to live and on-demand TV programming is available across Europe, but consumers want access to their recorded content. Consumers use PVRs to record their favourite shows, effectively creating a personalised TV playlist, and they value unfettered access to this programming.”