Tablet, smartphone viewing increases as PC declines
June 22, 2012
As paid video content becomes more available via different distribution channels, tablet and wireless phone-viewing usage has increased, while PC/Mac-viewing usage has decreased from 2011, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Residential Pay-to-View Study.
The study, now in its second year, provides insights concerning attitudes, viewing preferences, behaviour patterns, awareness and experiences among pay-to-view customers of the major home television and video service providers in the United States.
The study finds that 18 per cent of customers use tablets for viewing paid video content, making them the most-often-used hand-held device, up from 11 per cent in 2011. Usage by wireless phone customers increases to 16 per cent, up from 14 per cent in 2011. Overall, 29 per cent of video service customers watch paid content on a hand-held device. PC/Mac viewing of paid content has declined to 39 per cent from 48 per cent in 2011.
“Customers are becoming more comfortable viewing their paid content on a smaller screen, such as a tablet or mobile phone,” said Frank Perazzini, director of telecommunications at J.D. Power and Associates. “The convenience of the device, as well as the availability of the content, has made it much easier to experience video on a variety of devices. However, the desire to watch events and video content as it happens is still prevalent, as more than 50 per cent of viewers watch live television programming.”
The study measures customer satisfaction with the pay-to-view service experience across seven factors: performance and reliability; variety of videos/programming provided; ease of use; cost of service; customer service; billing; and offerings and promotions. Overall satisfaction with pay-to-view video service providers averages 750 (on a 1,000-point scale), up from 743 in 2011.
The study finds a stark difference in the usage and viewing practices of paid content by Gen Y and Baby Boomer customers, yet finds a minor difference in their satisfaction levels. For instance, satisfaction with video service providers among Gen Y customers has declined to 752, down 18 points from 2011, while satisfaction among Baby Boomer customers is 748, an increase of 19 points from 2011. Among Gen Y customers, satisfaction has declined in part due to lower ratings for cost of service and customer service, while satisfaction among Baby Boomer customers has increased due to higher ratings for billing, ease of use and variety of videos/programming provided.
“Baby Boomers are more becoming more comfortable with paid video technology and, as a result, are becoming more satisfied with the services available,” said Perazzini. “Conversely, Gen Y customers are already familiar with the technology and not only demand a high level of service from video service providers, but also are quick to seek alternatives when they believe they could have a better experience elsewhere.”
The study also finds that when selecting a video service provider, 21 per cent of Gen Y customers consider mobility a factor, compared with only 9 per cent of Baby Boomer customers, further highlighting the different needs of these two generations.
Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of customers view paid content via gaming consoles, compared to those who view paid content via hand-held devices (29 per cent). However, customers who view content on a gaming console watch 6.3 hours per week, compared with 5.3 hours on a PC/Mac; 4.9 hours on a wireless phone; 4.5 hours on a music player; and 4.4 hours on a tablet.
“These findings illustrate that while customers appreciate the convenience and value that gaming consoles provide, the TV screen is still a preferred viewing media,” said Perazzini. “On the other hand, average viewing times for mobile devices and computers are likely impacted by battery life and screen .”
The 2012 U.S. Residential Pay-to-View Study is based on responses from 4,097 U.S. households that evaluated video service providers, including Amazon, Apple TV, Blockbuster/Blockbuster Express, Google TV, Hulu/Hulu Plus, Local Video Stores, Netflix and Redbox. The study was fielded in April 2012.