Mobile devices popular among younger film viewers
A new survey finds that mobile devices, such as iPods, iPads, and laptops, are becoming increasingly used to watch movies.
Age is playing an important role in how people watch movies, according to a new survey released by Epix.
Epix, a joint venture of Paramount Pictures, MGM, and Lionsgate that offers films through a broadcast channel, video-on-demand, and streaming, found that people between the ages of 25 and 34 are 24 percent more likely to watch movies on iPods than those who are 35 to 64.
These younger viewers are also 21 percent more likely to use tablets and smartphone to enjoy a flick, compared with their older counterparts. Moreover, seven out of eight of all respondents said they watch movies on their computers.
However, many more people, regardless of age, expect to watch movies on something besides a theater screen or TV screen. Epix found that 53 percent of all respondents plan to buy a "broadband-enabled device such as a tablet, netbook, laptop, or desktop computer" in the next 12 months, and more than a quarter of respondents said they plan to buy a mobile phone with Net access in the next 12 months. When they do so, many consumers will be using those devices to watch movies.
"The results of this study illustrate the fact that consumers are increasingly accessing entertainment content wherever and whenever it is available and underscore the growing opportunities in cable to adapt to these changing viewing habits by providing movies and other content on every platform," Mark Greenberg, CEO of Epix, said today in a statement.
A growing number of content providers seem to be realizing that. Netflix, the leader in streaming video, currently offers mobile applications on smartphones and tablets. Cable and satellite providers such as Time Warner Cable, Comcast, and Dish Network, are also doubling down on the mobile craze with apps that let people watch programming on the go.
But before smartphones and tablets are hailed as the go-to spots for content access, Epix pointed out that 85 percent of respondents still use broadcast cable networks to watch movies in the home. Moreover, 51 percent of those who stream content over the Web are also watching movies on premium channels.
One other interesting tidbit: 44 percent of consumers who watch video online do so with the help of Internet-enabled Blu-ray players.
Epix's study was conducted in April in an online survey by research firm Ipsos OTX Media CT of 500 people between 25 and 64 who had streamed or downloaded video in the past six months.