ONE in ten homes in Scotland are estimated to be now using streaming services to watch television.
According to a survey commissioned by the Post Office, tablets and smart phones are now the ‘go-to browsing devices’ in almost a third of Scottish homes (29 per cent), with just two in five Scots (20 per cent) using computers as their ‘go-to browsing devices’ at home.
Other figures from the survey – released by Post Office HomePhone and Broadband – reveal the following:
* One in eight homes in the UK now use streaming services to watch television;
* Tablets and smart phones are now the ‘go-to browsing devices’ in a third of UK homes; and
* One in ten 18-24 year-olds do not currently own a PC or laptop.
Says a media release announcing the figures: “The report highlights the steady growth of sites such as Netflix, Cloudload and Google play as well as the growing battle between on-air and online entertainment channels.
“Streaming or downloading television programmes ranked as one of the top three most popular uses for broadband at home with one in eight (12 per cent) homes now viewing this media predominantly via online channels.
“The ‘student generation’ of 18-24 year olds are the most likely to stream this kind of content through their home broadband of any age group (21 per cent).
“The study found that nearly a third (29 per cent) of UK households is now using either a smart phone or tablet as their main browsing device at home. However, PCs and laptops still remain popular for accessing the internet at home (26 per cent and 44 per cent), but not among the younger generations, it seems.”
The announcement continues: “Only 15 per cent of 18-24 year-olds still use PCs as their main browsing platform compared with two in five (40 per cent) over-55s. In addition, one in ten (10 per cent) 18-24 year-olds admit that they don’t own a PC or laptop, a figure that rises to one in eight (12 per cent) among 25-34 year-olds.
“In comparison, nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of 18-24 year-olds choose a smart phone as their browsing device of choice. One in seven (14 per cent) 45-54 year-olds now opt for a tablet when browsing at home.”
“Across the UK, the Welsh cities of Aberystwyth and Swansea have the lowest levels of laptop or PC ownership in the country; with nearly one in six (17 per cent) residents respectively stating that they do not own either device. Homes in Birmingham and Leicester have the highest numbers of tablet users in the UK, both with 19 per cent citing it as their main browsing platform.”
Source: Post Office HomePhone and Broadband, September 26 2014.
