Broadband TV to rise "dramatically"

Improvements in broadband penetration and speed, coupled with a rise in the quality and variety of programmes available will fuel a "dramatic" rise in the number of people watching television over the internet in 2008, an industry expert has said.

Barak Bar-Cohen of Narrowstep said that 50 billion videos were streamed on the internet last year and consumption was now growing steeply on a "day-to-day" basis.

According to the 2008 Digital Entertainment Survey by Entertainment Media Research, less than 20 per cent of people have watched streaming video over the internet - yet 18 per cent said they now watch less broadcast TV because they are consuming programmes online.

Mr Bar-Cohen said the UK could see a sharp increase in the use of the technology because of its wide broadband coverage, which is "driving TV over the internet and streaming adoption".

Better quality video and faster downloading speeds also mean that more viewers and coming back more often, Mr Bar-Cohen commented.

In the future, he added, viewers could be using a living room PC that will help them decide what to watch, on which device and for how much while also interacting via a "very seamless and very easy to use interface".

Narrowstep provides TV on the internet for clients including Virgin Media and ITV Local.