TORONTO – While we’re not sure who would ever force a choice like this, a new survey says that 46% of Canadian respondents would give up watching television before they would relinquish surfing the Internet or using their phone.
Commissioned by Primus Canada and conducted on the Angus Reid forum in late May, the survey also determined that another one-third of respondents (35%) say that they would rather give up their phone in order to continue their on-line and television access, while only 20% would give up their Internet access. Of the 1,009 Canadian adults polled, Western Canadians were more likely to give up TV over Internet access or their phone, with 61% of British Columbians and 58% of Albertans, respectively, stating these opinions.
The Primus survey also revealed that 35% of those aged 55 years and older would rather forego television than the Internet or their phones, suggesting that the acceptance and use of digital technology is steadily rising among seniors. As well, a majority (67%) of the 18 to 34 year-olds surveyed said that they would give up television as opposed to the Internet or phone (perhaps not surprising since many in this segment have only known a world that includes on-line access, computers and digital technology).
"This survey proves that Canadians have reached a comfort level and reliance on the Internet that is at least on par with that of TV and phones," said Rob Warden, VP of residential services at Primus Canada, in a news release. "With the increased interactivity offered by both on-line and mobile phone access, the ability to connect, be entertained and more is easier than ever."
Additional findings from the survey include:
– when asked if they would rather receive $1 million and never use the Internet again, or prefer to keep the Internet, one-fifth of Canadians said that they would turn down the money in order to maintain their Internet access;
– females were more willing to give up television in order to keep the Internet or their phone than were males with 50% and 41%, respectively, reporting this fact;
– the majority (52%) of Canadians earning over $100,000 per year say they would forego television before giving up their phone or Internet access, compared to only 12% who said that they would give up the Internet to keep watching television or using their phone;
– the higher the level of education, the more likely the respondents were to choose to give up television, with 54% of post-university respondents admitting to this, in comparison to only 13% of the same group who would rather give up Internet access.
