Mobile devices trumping TV for entertainment, Accenture

Consumers are rapidly turning to other consumer electronics devices such as smartphones and tablet computers to view media, while also using more online services and downloading applications for various purposes, including entertainment. That’s according to Accenture’s latest report on the state of consumer technology.

The annual survey found that the percentage of consumers watching broadcast or cable TV in a typical week on televisions fell from 71% in 2009 to 48% in 2011. Consistent with this, the percentage of consumers who intend to buy a TV set during the next 12 months declined from 35% in 2010 to 32% in 2011.

Approximately 10,000 consumers from Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, and the United States were polled online.

The research uncovered soaring growth in use of smartphones and tablets as consumers increasingly value mobility. More than half (53%) of respondents said they own a smartphone, up from 28% in 2010. Ownership of tablets climbed to 12% in 2011 from 8% in 2010.

When consumers were asked about their plans to purchase consumer electronics devices in 2011 and 2012, the percentage of respondents who said they plan to purchase a smartphone rose from 24% to 27%. For tablets the percentage jumped from 8% to 16%.

More than half (56%) of the survey respondents indicated they have changed their behaviours due to online services and cloud computing. Nearly one-third (32%) have stopped, or almost stopped, renting or buying DVDs; a quarter share more personal content with family and friends; and 19% access their personal content from more devices than before.

It’s not all doom and gloom for TV manufacturers. More than half (55%) indicated they would purchase a television if the price was within their budget. However, only a quarter cited 3D as a desired capability

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