Online TV Viewing in the U.K. Slows

LONDON: The growth in TV viewing on computers and tablets is beginning to plateau in the U.K., likely due to the increasing PVR penetration, according to new figures from Barb.

In November 2011, 14.9 percent of respondents cited watching TV shows on a PC, laptop or tablet in the previous week. The level was at 14.4 percent in the same survey a year prior. This is a rise of only 0.5 percent. In 2009, the figure was at 11.2 percent, rising to 14.4 percent the next year.

Barb said the "plateau" is likely attributed to the rise in digital set-top boxes and the increased adoption of catch-up services on Internet-connected TVs.

Viewing on mobile devices does continue to increase, almost doubling. Of respondents, 7 percent say they watch TV on their mobile, compared with only 5 percent in November 2010. This growth is particularly prevalent in young adults, who are more likely to watch on their mobiles than any other demographic. Of those aged 15 to 34, 9.8 percent said they had watched TV on their handheld device in November last year, compared with 5.8 percent in 2010.

The proportion of all adults who claimed to have watched TV on their PC, laptop or tablet computer reached 36.2 percent at the end of 2011, a rise of 5.1 percent year on year.