The Conference Board and global market insight TNS report today that the number of consumers viewing entire episodes/shows on the internet has doubled from a year ago. Moreover, close to 16 percent of American households who use the internet watch television broadcasts online.

Online users catching up on missed content have increased to 42 percent from 30 percent a year ago. Consumers viewing entire episodes on the internet have doubled, and now approximately half watch their favorite shows online. This has replaced the news as the most widely viewed content online. Other online viewing preferences include sports, entertainment, previews and additional content.

Four out of every five online viewers say that watching these programs online has not changed their television viewing habits, but a small percentage claim that their traditional television viewing has decreased. These results are based on The Consumer Internet Barometer, a quarterly survey of 10,000 households.

More than three out of five online TV viewers cite personal convenience as the major reason for watching TV broadcasts online. More than a third chooses online viewing in order to avoid watching television commercials. Other reasons cited include portability and a preference for computer viewing.

The top methods for viewing broadcasts online are streaming and free downloading. About two-thirds of viewers stream online content, and more than 40 percent download content for free.

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