Survey Ranks Drama, Multiplatform as Fall Viewing Trends

PHILADELPHIA: Comcast Corporation has released the results of its TV Pulse Survey, which found that 81 percent of individuals plan to watch prime-time TV this fall and many will use on demand, the Internet and DVRs when tuning in to the new season’s offerings.

"The research clearly indicates that time- and place-shifting convenience is complementing live TV viewing and making entertainment better for consumers," said Derek Harrar, the general manager and senior VP of video services for Comcast. “As the leader in video, broadband, on demand and related technologies, the trend toward watching entertainment on consumers’ terms is playing to our strengths."

Comcast reported a nearly 25-percent increase among its customers viewing fall TV series through its On Demand service from 2007 to 2008. The platform is offering close to 1,000 TV episodes from 200 TV series in its on-demand slate. The survey indicates that nearly 85 percent of consumers plan to tune into this year’s fall prime time line-up when the shows air on TV, while 78 percent of individuals under 35, and more than 50 percent of those over 35, also plan to use technologies such as VOD, DVRs and the Internet—more than 67 percent of consumers said if they missed a show and knew it was available through video-on-demand, they would watch it. 

In terms of genres, 68 percent plan to tune in to prime-time drama, 67 percent to comedy, 61 percent to movies, 47 percent to news/educational content, 43 percent to sports and 41 percent to reality TV.