A new, independent study by Motorola reveals that almost half of Europe is already watching TV on the internet. No longer wanting to be bound by broadcasters' linear scheduling, users are taking control of their viewing, watching programmes how, when and where they want.

The European study, which surveyed attitudes and behaviours of 2500 broadband users in UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, highlights that a surprising 45 per cent of European viewers are already watching TV online. French television addicts are the most demanding, with 59 per cent choosing to watch previews and episodes of their favourite shows via the web. Italians and Brits come in second and third respectively, whilst German viewers remain most bound to schedules set by TV broadcasters with only 33 per cent catching shows online.

The TV itself appears to be evolving from a static ‘box in the corner of the living room' into an interactive entertainment and communications tool. On average, users are now plugging three devices into the TV set, with nearly a third of all Europeans attaching a digital camera to download and view photos. The extended use of the TV is still increasing: 45 per cent of Europeans expect to be making video calls via their home TVs by the time the 2012 Olympics is on.

“These results show that viewers across Europe are no longer satisfied with fitting into schedules dictated by broadcasters and are turning to the choice and flexibility offered by TV over the internet,” says Karl Elliott, Marketing Director for EMEA within Motorola's Connected Home Solutions division. “We are witnessing a nation of citizen schedulers who are in control of their entertainment, allowing them to watch what they want, how and when they want it.”

Other statistics underlined consumers' desires for freedom of choice when watching TV:

• 57 per cent of respondents want the ability to go online via the TV set during a live broadcast, for example to get sports statistics during a match or check out retail stores for fashion show items
• 35 per cent of viewers want the ability to pause, fast forward or rewind live broadcast programming

Motorola's IPTV set-top-boxes deliver television and entertainment via the internet, allowing viewers to dictate exactly when watch they their programmes, whilst allowing them to move it from the traditional television set to portable devices such as mobile phones or portable media players “Our products are giving consumers a fundamentally new entertainment experience: Users can enjoy their photos, video, television, music and the internet via a single familiar device,” says Elliott. “Your faithful television has become the doorway to entertainment in your home; the most recognisable living-room feature is becoming one of the most important means of communication.”