Rounding out news emailed to me, Jennifer Choate notes a study her company did about users of Digital Video Recorders (DVRs, also called Personal Video Recorders or PVRs). Some interesting statistics culled from the report:

• 22% of PVR users (consistent across all three waves 877 interviews) claim they NEVER watch live television now.
• News & Sports continue to be the top two types of programs watched live.
• 65% claim they watch more kinds of programs now.
• 55% claim they watch more channels.
• 20% claim they “DON”T KNOW” the change in channels, “the PVR records what they want.”
• 63% claim they watch more television with their children now, and 40% of their children know how to program the devices.
• Top three channels watched with PVR by children and family: PBS, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network.
• 60% say they rent fewer movies than before and 39% believe they are saving money because of it, despite their expense with PVRs.
• 20% of the commercials are NEVER watched by PVR owners.
• But, 80% claim they watch certain commercials deliberately for entertainment and product interest.
• When testing new concepts in advertising, very interestingly 35% of these owners say they are “very likely” to “accept suggestions and visit a website for more information; and 23% are willing to accept “incentivized viewership” paving the way for truly interactive television.
• 43% of these owners own multiple devices.
• 74% of these households want one for every TV in the house.
• 60% of current users are more satisfied now with their cable or satellite provider.
• What they value most: CONTROL – customization, personalization, TV is more meaningful, something always available to watch.

And some user comments:

• “I watch less BAD TV.”
• “I treat it like my Internet now, I seek and find what I want, when I want it.”
• “I watch more shows, in less time, and on my schedule.”
• “My children don’t understand when they see regular TV.”
• “After owning one, you would never consider watching TV without it.”

I haven't read through the whole report yet, but all of these observations and statistics are certainly true at my house. The majority of programming on the 60-hour ReplayTV is for the kids, and next year we're hoping to get a third Replay for the upstairs. I expect that in another year or so, the kids will rarely watch live TV anymore. As I say in my presentations, if you don't have a DVR, you should. Like wireless and broadband internet, it changes how you view and interact with information and entertainment.

You can get a copy of the report by contacting Jennifer Choate at jenniferc@ccubedllc.com. (Note: it's unclear in the email I received if you have to pay for it.)