The use of the Internet to watch full television episodes has tripled since 2006 among those aged 13-to-54, according to a new report from Knowledge Networks.
Among Internet users 13-to-54 viewing complete TV show episodes via streaming or downloaded video has grown from 8 percent to 22 percent. For Internet users 18-to-34 viewing of complete TV show episodes via streaming or downloading has climbed from 12 percent to 30 percent.
"The small but notable level of people watching TV programs via the Internet on regular TV sets suggests that the convergence of the two screens for mainstream audiences may finally be on the horizon," said David Tice, Vice President and Group Account Director at Knowledge Networks.
"Growing numbers of ‘connected TVs’ – those that access the Internet – are making this option increasingly user-friendly. The fact that over one-third of TV homes now have a bundled TV/Internet service package is no doubt accelerating this blurring of boundaries."
Other highlights from the report include:
*7 percent in the 13-to-54 age group, and 11 percent of those 18 to 34, have used a TV to watch streamed or downloaded video
*6 percent of those 13 to 54, and 9 percent of 18-to-34 have cut back or cancelled their TV service in the past year due to their online viewing of network programming, or plan to do so in the next year