Consumers want both pay TV and Over-the-Top video

Now, Apple, you know I’m not going to quit hounding you until you move the Apple TV out of the “hobby” category. Anyway, here’s some new research for you to consider.

Consumers want their Internet TV, according to market research firm In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). Already, based on In-Stat’s new multi-client research, 26% of U.S. consumer respondents report viewing Internet TV more than once per week. However, rather than a substitute for traditional pay TV services, consumers want Over-the-Top (OTT) Internet video to compliment traditional TV offerings.

“Consumers want the best of both worlds: pay TV and OTT Video,” says Keith Nissen, In-Stat analyst. “Nearly 40% of consumer broadband household respondents want a combination of linear and on-demand TV, and nearly three quarters want to acquire all their video content from their pay TV operator.”

The recent research also found:

° While computers remain primary devices used for viewing Internet TV, consumers are increasingly using multiple devices. Such as, perhaps, Apple TVs?

° Consumers use a several devices to get Internet video to their TVs, including computer-based and dedicated media adapters, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players and Internet-enabled TVs. And Apple TVs?

° At year end 2009, 24 million web-enabled devices were in operation in the U.S. This is expected to grow to 102 million by 2013.