Western Europeans Prefer Recorded TV vs. Live Viewing

DALLAS: Recorded TV programs in Western European multi-device homes are more popular than live TV, finds Parks Associates’ Connected Consumer in Europe report.

When given a choice of new TV features—including 3DTV, online video access and multiscreen services—47-percent of broadband households in Western Europe’s largest countries selected viewing recorded programs on an Internet-connected device as one of their top three features. Across all countries surveyed, there was a marked preference for viewing recorded content on a computer, tablet, smartphone or other Internet-connected device. The greatest difference was found in French households; 51 percent selected recorded content, with only 30 percent selecting live TV. Of U.K. consumers, 48 percent chose recorded TV and 36 percent chose live TV. German homes showed the least interest in multi-screen services.

"Multi-screen access to live TV programming is available across Europe, but consumers want access to their recorded content," commented Brett Sappington, the director of research at Parks Associates. "Consumers use PVRs to record their favorite shows, effectively creating a personalised TV playlist, and they value unfettered access to this programming.”