The number of people watching TV over their broadband connections has continued to increase, according to a new study.

Some 34 per cent of consumers now tune in to online on-demand television services, according to research conducted by the Radio Times and SeeSaw.com.

Among students, the proportion of people watching their favourite programmes over the internet is even higher - at 56 per cent.

The study found that in the last month, 42 per cent of consumers will have watched content on BBC iPlayer, 19 per cent on ITV Player and 16 per cent on Channel 4's 4oD service.

All three of the broadcasters' on-demand services are used more often than online video aggregator YouTube, which was visited by 15 per cent of TV viewers.

BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel Five, along with broadband providers BT and TalkTalk, are currently working on Project Canvas, an initiative designed to bring IPTV services to consumers' living rooms.