Ofcom: 'A third of online adults use VOD'

Ofcom has revealed that one in three (29%) UK adults who use the internet are now watching or downloading on-demand TV programmes or films.

According to research by the media regulator, the vast majority of video on demand usage is via the catch-up offerings of traditional broadcasters such as BBC iPlayer.

The report also indicated that digital TV takeup among UK adults now stands at 89%, with 73% having access to the internet and 91% owning a mobile phone.

Around half of UK adults (51%) said that they would miss watching TV the most if the service was taken away, with 15% stating that they would not want to lose the internet.

In the wake of controversial government plans to tackle online copyright infringement, the research indicated that 42% of UK adults believe that all file-sharing should be made illegal.

However, 55% of young people aged between 16 and 24 feel that content drawn from file-sharing should not be outlawed.

Despite the BBC recently unveiling tougher measures on the use of swearing and intimidation on its programming, Ofcom found that the proportion of adults concerned by offensive content on TV or the internet has actually declined since 2007.

Just over a half (56%) of adults are now concerned about what is on the internet and under half (44%) are worried about what is on television.