Opinion - News Analysis   

Britons prefer broadband to TV, newspapers

Richard Wray

A THIRD of British Internet users watch less television once they have broadband, while 27 per cent read fewer national newspapers and almost a fifth switch off their radios, according to new research from the U.K. telecom regulator Ofcom. The picture is similar across France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, highlighting the threat posed by the web to traditional media.

Ofcom's first major international survey of communications trends also shows that Britons pay less for mobile phone, TV and Internet services than their counterparts in Europe and the U.S.

Ofcom examined Internet use in China, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the U.S. Results show Chinese broadband users download more TV shows, music videos, and news clips, and listen to more web radio than anyone else. They are also the most frequent users of user-generated content sites such as YouTube and social networking sites such as MySpace, as well as Internet phone services.

More than a third of British Internet users have watched TV, movies or film trailers over broadband. Across all age groups, 34 per cent of British broadband users have looked at user-generated content while 38 per cent have watched the news online. British youth are the most web-savvy in the U.K. — of those aged 18 to 24 with broadband, 77 per cent have downloaded a music video.

British web users turn away from TV and national newspapers once they have broadband but although 17 per cent say they listen to less traditional radio, 43 per cent listen to radio on the web at least once a month, similar to the trend on the continent.

Only 19 per cent of British web users make phone calls over the Internet at least once a month compared with 30 per cent in France and 37 per cent of users in Germany. Britons are also more reticent about using websites to meet, chat, and make friends. Despite the turn away from old media such as the BBC, the report shows 64 per cent of British consumers believe public service broadcasting is "definitely necessary." — © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

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