With media companies testing out paid content models, the results of a Nielsen survey released today seems to bolster the case for TV Everywhere and other online video pay models. Nielsen surveyed 27,000 consumers in 52 countries to find out if they would start paying for content they now receive for free. And while 85% of consumers want free content to remain free (big surprise, right?), the responses also suggested that they’re most willing to pay for professionally produced movie and TV shows vs. other content types.
Here are a few interesting specifics from the survey:
  • 78% of respondents believe if they already subscribe to a newspaper, magazine, radio or television service, they should be able to use its online content for free.
  • 71% of global consumers say online content of any kind will have to be considerably better than what is currently free before they will pay for it.
  • 79% would no longer use a web site that charges them, presuming they can find the same information at no cost.
  • As a group, consumers are ambivalent about whether the quality of online content would suffer if companies could not charge for it—34% think so while 30% do not; and the remaining 36% have no firm opinion.
  • But they are far more united (62%) in their conviction that once they purchase content, it should be theirs to copy or share with whomever they want.

Array

The Daily

Subscribe
Friday–July 11

Next Frontier: CableLabs Explores More than Speed Connectivity Era

Internet speed records are all the rage these days, with two separate breakthroughs making the headlines recently. One is more in the distant future, but the other hits closer to home.

Read the Full Issue
The Skinny is delivered on Tuesday and focuses on the cable profession. You'll stay in the know on the headlines, topics and special issues you value most. Sign Up

Calendar

Sep 11
2025 Faxies Awards Faxies Nominations Open! Final deadline: 4/4/25
Full Calendar

Jobs

Seeking an INDUSTRY JOB or hiring for one?
VIEW JOBS

In conjunction with our sister brand, Cynopsis, we are offering hiring managers a deep pool of media-savvy, skilled candidates at a range of experience levels and sectors. The result will be an even more robust industry job board, to help both employers and job seekers.

Contact Carley Ashley, [email protected], for more information about posting a job on the website and our Jobs newsletter, sent twice weekly to 85,000 media professionals.