OTTAWA – Some 60% of Canadian Internet users that watch online movies, video and TV seek out Canadian content at least occasionally, but only 14% say that they often do, says a report this week by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA).
CIRA Internet Factbook 2016, an annual report that tracks global and domestic trends in Internet growth and use, found that while online video is gaining in popularity, 76% of Canadian Internet users continue to subscribe to cable or satellite television. This may be changing for younger generations, however, as 37% of younger Canadians say that they are considering cutting the cord.
Canadians are willing to tread into some grey areas to access the online content they want, the report continues. Almost four-in-ten (38%) Internet users say they subscribe to Netflix. Among Netflix subscribers, 16% admit to using DNS masking or a VPN in order to access Netflix or other online content only available outside the country.
The average Canadian viewer spends 1,476 minutes per year streaming online video. According to research by comScore, Canadians on average watch 5.1 more hours of video per month than their American counterparts.
Canadians place a high-value on their Internet connection’s speed and performance, with near universal agreement that Internet quality and performance were important. More than 80% of those surveyed said they’re satisfied with Internet connection speeds in their homes, although just 34% claim to be very satisfied with connection speeds. However, only half feel they are getting good value for money from their monthly Internet service packages, and the majority (62%) say that they would consider switching Internet service providers.
Other highlights from the report include:
– Canadians' embrace of mobile continues – The study found that 21% of Canadian Internet users most often access the Internet with a mobile or smart phone, while 12% reported using a tablet most often. Canadians are more likely to use mobile devices than personal computers to access social media, games, and instant messages. Older Canadians (55+) are much more likely to use tablets to get online than their younger counterparts.
– Internet connected devices are taking over some Canadian homes – Nine percent of Canadian Internet users reported having ten or more Internet-connected devices in their home. However, 11% reported having only one.
– The Internet of Things is making some Canadians nervous – 66% of Canadians who were aware of the Internet of Things were concerned about the security implications of the technology.
– Canadians are concerned about an expanded set of cyber-security issues – 47% of Canadians are unlikely to make a purchase from an online retailer after a cyber-attack. The same was true for the non-profit community, as 48% of Canadians said they were unlikely to make donation to organizations following a cyber-attack.
