22 June 2007
Research from telecommunications regulator Ofcom has revealed that the level of broadband users who use their high-speed connections to watch TV has risen by 44.2% in the first quarter of 2007.
Over 19,000 households were believed to have opted to watch digital TV programmes through their broadband connection and the figures are set to increase further as the technology improves.
In total, 62,000 consumers are now receiving TV services through broadband, according to Ofcom's statistics.
Ed Richards, Ofcom's Chief Executive, said that it was great to see so many people using broadband services to access digital TV programmes ahead of the digital switchover, which starts in just a few months' time.
"More than four in five UK households are now enjoying the benefits of digital television," he commented: "It's great news that we are continuing to see the market grow strongly as we approach the start of digital switchover."
In a separate report, Ofcom noticed that ethnic minorities in Britain were less likely to watch TV, but were increasingly becoming au fait with broadband and mobile phone services, with 83% of adults in ethnic minority groups stating that communications technology is important to them.