Across Asia Pacific, the Philippines has the highest proportion of users using web links or “torrent” sites to view content such as TV dramas and movies on their computer, tablet, smartphone or TV, according to a survey released by YouGov Asia Pacific.
Three out of 10 or 31% of users in Philippines use torrent sites, higher than the region’s average. Close to 20% of respondents in APAC (19%) admit that they use web links or “torrent” sites. The key drivers are that it’s free of charge (49% said this) and that this method provides timely and up-to-date content (49% said this).
Looking at the devices respondents use most often to watch online streaming video, 32% use smartphone, 31% use TV, 26% use PC, while only 11% use tablet. In terms of location and connection, 8 out of 10 respondents stay at home and 65% of respondents use fixed broadband to watch online streaming video most often.
YouTube is the most popular
Among those who have been using on-demand video streaming services in APAC, 7 out of 10 (72%) use YouTube, its popularity far ahead of the next ranked service providers Google Play (31%). YouTube is ranked No.1 across Asia Pacific countries with the exception of China, where YouTube and Netflix are not available. In China, the majority of respondents use YouKu (74%) and WeChat (60%) instead.
TV is still king
On average, people in APAC spend around 6 hours per week watching TV. However, despite the prevalence of on-demand video, over 80% of people (83%) still watch TV via broadcast TV channels, with 59% of respondents watch on-demand content via TV, 61% watch on-demand content via desktop / laptop computer, and 56% watch on-demand content via mobile devices.
Netflix is most welcomed in Philippines
Netflix launched its services in many Asia Pacific countries, including the Philippines, earlier this year and more than half of the APAC respondents (55%) are aware of that.
On a scale of 1 (not welcome) to 10 (very welcome), consumers in APAC generally welcome the Asia launch of Netflix, scoring 7.8 on the scale, with the highest mean score found in the Philippines (8.5) and Mainland China (8.1), and the lowest mean score found in Hong Kong (7.1).
More than 3 in 5 respondents (63%) think the launch of Netflix in APAC will have a positive impact on the media industry and Pay TV operators as it allows more competition in the industry and it will trigger better quality of service provision. And among those who have already subscribed to Netflix, 76% think Netflix provides good overseas content.
But despite high awareness across the region, 35% of APAC respondents are not sure whether they will subscribe to Netflix or not. 26% of APAC respondents say they will subscribe to it, only 11% of APAC respondents say they have already subscribed to the service.
The trend is quite similar across APAC countries with the exception of Australia where Netflix has been launched for a longer period of time. 34% of Australia respondents have already subscribed to the service.
In Indonesia, the Philippines, and interestingly, China, over 40% of respondents in each of the 3 countries say they will subscribe to Netflix, this is way higher than the other countries in Asia Pacific.
