Press Release
As broadband connectivity becomes more important this holiday season, from getting in touch with friends and family to providing much-needed entertainment, more than a quarter of British consumers (27%) are worried about poor broadband spoiling their festive experience: including Christmas, New Years and TV experiences such as the Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor finals, according to a new consumer survey commissioned by broadband services provider ViaSat. Millennials are even more concerned, with 45 percent of 16-24 year olds expressing worry. This comes after 21% had their summer of sport, including the Olympics, Euro 2016 and Wimbledon, disrupted. With many consumers still unaware whether they have access to superfast broadband, the potential of a connected holiday season may be lost for many.
Conducted by TNS on 2,012 GB adults aged 16-64, key survey findings include:
• 28 percent of 16-24 year olds are worried about poor broadband affecting Christmas itself, while 24 percent fear for their New Year’s holiday
• Londoners are the most concerned about poor broadband over the festive season (36%), and the South East & East of England the least (22%)
• Londoners also suffered the most disruption to their summer of sport; 33% said poor broadband spoiled their experience
• Many areas of the UK won’t have access to superfast broadband this holiday season – previous survey findings show that only 48 percent of consumers believe that they can access superfast broadband (24Mbps) in their area – link
Please see below for comments from Marc Agnew, ViaSat EMEA chief operating officer, as well as some supporting statistics on the connected Christmas and the summer of sport. For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 020 7436 0420 or by reply.
“Just like crackers, tinsel and indigestion, the internet has fast become a core part of the holiday season. For many, it is essential for connecting with far away loved ones; or a way to shop for gifts without having to experience those endless long lines; while for others they will turn to streaming services such as Netflix for their Christmas films, Spotify to soundtrack their New Year’s Eve party, or YouTube for extended Yule log fireplace videos. Any disruption in their broadband connection could make this holiday season a bit more stressful.”
“Unfortunately many parts of the country remain unable to access superfast broadband, with the holidays offering a revealing glimpse at what these homes are missing out on. Indeed, the UK’s dependence on fibre has created a two tiered nation of the broadband haves and have nots, a situation which shows no sign of change in the New Year. Until the Government plans for British homes and businesses to be connected by other means, including satellite broadband, there will still be many disconnected homes during the season where many consumers want to be connected most.”
Connected Christmas statistics
• There are currently 47 Christmas movies and TV specials available on Netflix in the UK (according to NewOnNetflix.com) https://uk.newonnetflix.info/christmas
• The most popular fireplace video on Youtube has almost 10m views and is 8 hours long https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDfjXj5EGqI
• John Lewis’ 2014 Christmas ad, Monty the penguin, has a whopping 26,755,141 views https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iccscUFY860
• There are 26,496 cover versions of Silent Night on Spotify https://www.statista.com/statistics/496785/spotify-christmas-songs/
• Last year, The Beatles finally appeared on Spotify on Christmas Eve (after which they became Spotify’s most listened to artist that winter – with Bing Crosby and Michael Buble also making a seasonal appearance in the top ten) https://insights.spotify.com/us/2016/09/21/music-and-seasons/
• Shoppers spent £6.45bn online with UK retailers over the Black Friday peak period in 2016 https://www.imrg.org/media-and-comment/press-releases/imrg-black-friday-online-sales-performance-update/
Summer of sport – digital viewing stats
• During the Rio Olympics 30.2m UK browsers streamed the action on BBC iPlayer and on BBC Sport http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/37156975
• BBC Sport’s Olympic coverage reached 68.3m devices in the United Kingdom, and 102.3m globally
• On ‘Super Sunday’ (when Great Britain won five gold medals) BBC sport had 19m unique browsers across the world
• The Wales v England Euro 2016 match set a new BBC record for live online viewers. 2.3 million people tuned in to watch, smashing the previous high of 820,000 for the London 2012 Olympic tennis finals http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/wales-v-england-euro-2016-11486665
