"Slow take up" for IPTV in United Kingdom

Slow download speeds, the size of computer monitors and consumer reluctance is hindering the adoption of internet protocol television (IPTV) via a broadband connection, reports say.

Technology blog Techwatch says that looking at the BBC's new online IPTV service, iPlayer, many people would be forgiven for thinking that watching television over broadband was a "great success".

However, it says that a recent survey found that less than 20 per cent of UK residents with a broadband connection have downloaded or streamed TV programmes over the internet.

Virgin Media was the provider with the greatest individual take up of IPTV, with 20 per cent of its users occasionally downloading shows, the blog says.

It was followed by Channel 4's 4oD service with 15 per cent and the BBC iPlayer on 13 per cent. A number of other providers were on four per cent.

Nevertheless, Techwatch indicates that IPTV use could increase in the future. It says that while traditional television "still holds centre stage" in most households, younger consumers are more likely to view content on their computers.

A recent study by Yankee Group Research predicted widespread growth for IPTV. It forecast that nine million US households could be subscribing to IPTV services by 2011.