Some 44% of consumers watch movies and TV shows daily via the web

Some 44% of consumers now watch full-length movies and TV shows over the internet on a daily basis, according to new research by Accenture.

The study, which polled 23,000 people in 23 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, found that 39% watched TV shows and movies online on a weekly basis.

This was despite the fact that 86% reported streaming interruptions and 71% noted considerable slowdowns in the viewing experience.

Some 60% of respondents who stream video at home said they were willing to pay for a faster connection, while 62% said they would pay extra for better quality so they could view videos whenever and wherever they like.

“Today’s consumers are viewing so much online video content that they are willing to pay for faster connections. That’s good news for content owners and for the service providers who are investing heavily in super-fast broadband. The fact that consumers are also willing to pay more for the content itself is a huge vote of confidence in the validity of over-the-top services,” said Gavin Mann, Accenture’s global broadcast industry lead.

The survey found that 25% of respondents intend to buy a connected TV in the next 12 months. Another 11% plan to replace an existing connected television, while 12% intend to purchase a tablet.