Research reveals slow progress in convergence of TV and computers

The majority of consumers are not prepared to pay to avoid advertising on television, according to new research from Media Planning Group.

The agency commissioned research into “convergence”, to see how the growth of video-on-demand services and the arrival of personal video recorders (PVRs) has affected the use of televisions and computers.

ICM Direct carried out the telephone survey of 1,000 adults and found that the TV and PC still have very separate functions in the home, and that convergence is limited to “certain key activities”, such as listening to the radio.

Regarding PVRs, which will allow viewers to avoid ads in the future, nearly two-thirds of the respondents said they would not be prepared to pay for this facility. They were prepared, however, to pay to be able to watch programmes when they want, rather than be dictated to by the schedule.

Forty-five per cent of respondents said they would pay for a video-on-demand facility. A quarter said they would pay “less than &£5”.

The poll reflected the growth of online banking, with 43 per cent saying they would consider banking via their PCs. Only 12 per cent would consider banking via the TV, on the other hand. Seventy per cent said they would consider booking holidays via their PC, with 37 per cent saying they would consider using the TV to do so.