LONDON - The time people in Europe spend online will outstrip the length of time they spend watching the TV by June next year, according to research by Microsoft.
The web and software giant said today that it expects June 2010 to be the month when the switchover will happen, as people spend on average 14.2 hours a week online and 11.5 hours a week watching TV, on average throughout 2010.
Microsoft was keen to play down the decline of TV and instead pointed out that TV content will be watched on the internet and mobile, as well as on traditional TV boxes.
The company also predicted that the need to watch TV in real-time will end in the next five years as viewers build up an archive of content on their broadband-enabled set top boxes.
Microsoft also found that online video is watched by more than one in four Europeans, signaling a strong future for online video.
The video findings are consistent with Microsoft's plans to become the leading video portal in Europe by striking deals with broadcasters and filing a void where Project Kangaroo, the joint venture between British broadcasters, failed.
Author: Andrew McCormick
Source: revolutionmagazine.com
Date: 08 April 2009