One in 6 Britons to Buy a Tablet in 2012? And Sky Sports News for iPad Launched

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A new poll commissioned by Mintel for Sky reveals that despite the gloomy economic outlook, the British public’s appetite for new technology shows no signs of abating, with 8% of respondents receiving a tablet for Christmas and an additional 16% of respondents intending to purchase a tablet in 2012.

Separate research commissioned by Mintel for Sky also reveals that thanks to the huge growth in the ownership of tablets, and smartphones (recent Ofcom data reported 50% of the population own a smartphone and 9% own a tablet), the average UK home now has a total of six screens (they obviously didn't ask us or that figure would have been a bit higher), half of which are ‘mobile’, reflecting the growing demand from consumers who want to be entertained on the move.The findings of the study correlate with Sky’s own data about the rapid growth of TV viewing beyond the box, through Sky Go, with over 2 million unique users of the service accessing over 30 million pieces of content each month.

As the amount of devices on which to watch television evolves, so too do viewing habits, with ‘must watch’ TV content meaning viewers are demanding more flexibility over how, when and where they watch. As ‘second-screens’ become increasingly common, the research reveals that a staggering 13% of Britons would be happy watching two different programmes on different devices at the same time. Now that's a frightening statistic!

Consumers now look to mobile devices for a range of TV, entertainment and news content, with millions of people using tablets to watch the latest TV content via Sky Go: a total of 180 million pieces of content has been viewed since the app launched in the summer of 2011. The poll respondents identified watching film, TV content or other video (37%), music (48%), internet access (67%) social networking (48%) and keeping up to date with the news (40%) as the primary reasons for using tablets.

This versatility of the tablet has not only fuelled its uptake, but also positioned it as a rival to the traditional computer with 45% of those who intended to purchase a tablet expecting to use their PC or desktop computer less as a result. Almost two thirds of poll respondents identified portability as the major reason (65%), with the ability to use concurrently with television (48%) and the ability to access content out of the home (44%) also major draws.

The Mintel research is unveiled as Sky today launches its latest app, Sky Sports News for iPad. Available now from the App Store free of charge to Sky customers who take Sky Sports or the Entertainment Extra package of channels, the app has been specially designed for iPad and features live and on-demand video content, rich interactive graphics and up-to-the-minute data

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Staffed by a dedicated editorial team, Sky Sports News for iPad allows customers to access in-depth coverage of all the major sports stories of the day. Users can also watch Sky Sports News live through the app as well as tune in to Sky Sports News Radio.

David Gibbs, Sky’s Director of Mobile, comments: “Clearly consumers are embracing smart mobile technology and using those devices to stay informed, in touch and entertained and on the move. The explosion in smartphone and tablets is ideal for Sky as we innovate hard to make sure that we satisfy our customers’ demand to access great TV and news and sports news on the go. We already offer our customers a number of innovative apps which help them get the most out of their Sky subscription, including the highly popular and multi award winning Sky Go. Sky Sports News for iPad further enhances this selection.”

The Sky Sports News app is also available on a standalone basis through a monthly ticket priced at £4.99/month for those missing it from the free to air services.

So one in 6 intends to bag themselves a tablet. Are you one of them - I know I am...
 

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