Report: 190 million console owners by 2012

Approximately 190 million households worldwide will own a next-generation console by 2012, a new report has claimed.

According to research by technology analysts TDG, around 148 million of these console owners will also have their machine connected to the internet.

The figures suggest that 110 million next-generation consoles will be signed up to use multimedia and gaming services from Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network or Nintendo's Wii Online by 2012.

Colin Dixon, TDG's manager for broadband media and co-author of the report, claimed that this will signal a growth in consoles being used for watching movies and television shows.

"Microsoft and Sony know that today's console gamers are perfectly suited for new TV offerings," he said.

Dixon added that gamers are often "heavy viewers of online video" who are "quite comfortable spending money for online digital media".