Britons turn off television and put down the paper as they take up broadband

Richard WrayThursday November 30, 2006The Guardian

A third of British internet users watch less television once they have broadband, while 27% read fewer national newspapers and almost a fifth switch off their radios, according to new research from the telecoms regulator Ofcom. The picture is similar across France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US, highlighting the threat posed by the web to traditional media.

Ofcom's first major international survey of communications trends also shows that Britons pay less for mobile phone, TV and internet services than their counterparts in Europe and the US. The proliferation of "free" broadband, bundled products and fierce competition has kept prices down, while Freeview provides the type of digital television that is dominated by subscription services in other markets.

More than a third of British internet users have watched TV, movies or film trailers over broadband. Across all age groups, 34% of British broadband users have looked at user-generated content while 38% have watched the news online. British youth are the most web-savvy in the country - of those aged 18 to 24 with broadband, 77% have downloaded a music video, which is more than in any country except China, and 60% have watched TV over the web, putting them on an equal footing with similarly aged users in Japan, but behind the 82% in China.

British web users turn away from TV and national newspapers once they have broadband but although 17% say they listen to less traditional radio, 43% listen to radio on the web at least once a month, similar to the trend on the continent.

Only 19% of British web users make phone calls over the internet at least once a month compared with 30% in France and 37% of users in Germany. Brits are also more reticent about using websites to meet, chat and make friends. Despite the turn away from old media such as the BBC, the report shows 64% of British consumers believe public service broadcasting is "definitely necessary".