There is a big debate going on about the effects of internet tv on cable subscribers, that it will kill cable and lead us all into a free utopia. We are also told that traditional TV viewing is declining more by the day and online tv is booming. The truth according to a report by Horowitz Associates’ annual Broadband Content and Services (BCS) survey says that the mass migration of television viewers to internet tv is still more hype than reality

The survey revealed that only 17% of cable and satellite subscribers watch video content on a computer or handled device each month. 40% of people admit to watching a non-traditional media portal at least once per month. Considering that around only 65% of America has broadband, that’s really impressive. On the other hand, 60% still only watch TV the “normal” way, which means we have a long way to go before people really start canceling their cable subscriptions with any sense of urgency.

According to the Horowitz study, of all the hours Internet users say they spend watching TV programs,  around 4% of TV watching time is on a platform other than a TV set. 2% on a PC/laptop and 2% on a mobile handheld device but the majority (96%) still viewed on traditional television. “It’s important to keep in perspective that when all is said and done, consumers are still spending only a very small amount of their total TV time on alternative platforms,” notes Adriana Waterston, VP of Marketing for the research firm. “But, we anticipate that multiplatform TV viewing will continue to grow — especially among young people — as the technology improves towards a more authentic and convenient TV experience, and with programmers and aggregators actively promoting themselves on these platforms.”

One thing that may have distorted the results was the fact that this was an internet based survey, and one must assume that this demographic would watch more Internet TV. One thing is for sure though, the younger generation love their internet tv with a massive 82% of those aged 15-17 admitted to watching online or mobile TV at least once during the month, and on handheld devices alone, half (48%) of online young people surveyed report watching TV content at least monthly, doubling from 24% last year.

It makes sense that the older generation stick to what they know best and that new technology appeals much more to younger people. The survey just further enforces the fact that the internet is and will change how we consume media, it just may take a little longer than some of us think.

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