Three-fifths of UK broadband households use online sources to access video content
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Editor
| 29 October 2019

The march of online continues unabated in the UK video industry with more than half of the country’s broadband households using online sources for video content, including OTT subscriptions and the BBC iPlayer said research from Parks Associates.

The study showed that 59% were watching through online video, closely followed by subscription/pay-TV services and the through the Freeview digital terrestrial service. Only just over a tenth accessed through Freeview via satellite or from YouView and TalkTalk TV via a set-top box.

The growth is said to a direct result of such households adopting smart technologies. “The smart home is the new battleground where over-the-top service providers continue to disrupt the established ISP model of voice, video and data,” explained Niall Robinson, VP, business development, of smart home services provider Plume.

“To avoid commoditisation and counteract ARPU erosion and churn, ISPs must reinvigorate their consumer offerings and leverage home Wi-Fi to deliver exceptional user experiences. The way forward is through a portfolio of smart home services that includes flawless internet connectivity, robust security, and highly personalised access controls.”

"Smart home is embedded more and more into mainstream consumer electronics,” added Stefan Witkamp, founder and commercial director of Athom. “That's why we should always look to empower users through a focus on UX, privacy, and security when converging and combining these ecosystems at home."