Video watching on 'own terms'

A report by the Australian Communications and Media Authority confirms that Australians are increasingly able to view video content on their own terms, including when, where and how they want it.

The report is part of the ACMA’s ongoing research program into the application of emerging technologies.

It provides classification of the new delivery models and discusses the changes to the commercial environment.

The report, entitled ‘IPTV and internet video delivery models: Video content services over IP in Australia’, identifies that, while traditional content viewing services such as free-to-air and subscription broadcasting still form the overwhelming backbone for video and television content viewing in Australia, there has been a material increase in the number of alternative distribution methods - with several using the internet.

The report suggests that one in five Australians have already viewed full-length television programs over the internet and one in eight have viewed full-length films.

With higher internet speeds and increasing bandwidth capacity, increasingly consumers are less restricted to viewing programs, according to a predetermined schedule or on a single device, such as the family television.