Report Sees Interest in 3D TV

BOSTON: A new study on media-consumption trends found that more than 50 percent of individuals who have seen 3D movies plan to purchase a 3-D capable set in the next three years.

The survey by consultancy Altman Vilandrie & Company and research firm Peanut Labs also reports that only 42 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds watch TV shows during their regular linear time slots, as compared with 60 percent of those 35 and up. Of the 18-to-34 set, 16 percent watch full TV episodes online daily, versus just 6 percent of those 35 and older. The percent of overall respondents watching full TV episodes online daily has increased from 5 percent last year to 10 percent. However, online use has not resulted in mass pay-TV cancellations; only 3 percent of those 18 to 34 have pulled the plug on a home pay-TV service. Yet, 25 percent “have seriously considered dropping my subscription TV service because Internet video services meet most of my needs.”

“While the study shows the rumblings of seismic shift in consumer video preferences, there are clear opportunities for cable and satellite providers to differentiate versus online video alternatives,” said Jonathan Hurd, the director of Altman Vilandrie & Company, who oversaw the research and analysis. “Providers that can be nimble in adopting mobile video, 3D and other innovations will stem potential defections, especially among younger consumers."