This statistic presents data on digital TV program consumption, by paid or free accessing, among digital TV content consumers in the United Kingdom (UK) from August 2012 to May 2018, in eight survey waves. As of the most recent survey wave, ending May 2018, 24 percent of those who consumed digital TV shows did so entirely for free.
Were the TV programs you consumed paid or free?
Characteristic
100% Paid
Mix of Paid and Free
100% Free
August to October 2012
6%
7%
87%
November 2012 to January 2013
10%
9%
82%
March to May 2013
7%
8%
85%
March to May 2015
15%
11%
76%
March to May 2016
16%
13%
71%
March to May 2017
17%
11%
72%
March to May 2018
62%
14%
24%
0%25%50%75%100%125%
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All who have downloaded or streamed/accessed TV content in the past threemonths
Supplementary notes
* Base of most recent survey wave (Wave 8). Base varied by wave: n (W2) = 1,743; n (W3) = 1,831; n (W4) = 1,685; n (W5) = 1,693; n (W6) = 1,775; n (W7) = 1,792. Online (CAWI) and face-to-face (CAPI) surveys were used. The source does not provide detailed information regarding the question. The chosen wording here might therefore differ slightly from the survey. Data for waves previous to Wave 8 published earlier by the source. Figures do not sum 100. The source provides no explanation.
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Ofcom, & Kantar. (July 4, 2018). Were the TV programs you consumed paid or free? [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 06, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/291281/digital-tv-program-consumption-by-paid-and-free-in-the-uk/
Ofcom, und Kantar. "Were the TV programs you consumed paid or free?." Chart. July 4, 2018. Statista. Accessed May 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/291281/digital-tv-program-consumption-by-paid-and-free-in-the-uk/
Ofcom, Kantar. (2018). Were the TV programs you consumed paid or free?. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/291281/digital-tv-program-consumption-by-paid-and-free-in-the-uk/
Ofcom, and Kantar. "Were The Tv Programs You Consumed Paid or Free?." Statista, Statista Inc., 4 Jul 2018, https://www.statista.com/statistics/291281/digital-tv-program-consumption-by-paid-and-free-in-the-uk/
Ofcom & Kantar, Were the TV programs you consumed paid or free? Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/291281/digital-tv-program-consumption-by-paid-and-free-in-the-uk/ (last visited May 06, 2025)
Were the TV programs you consumed paid or free? [Graph], Ofcom, & Kantar, July 4, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/291281/digital-tv-program-consumption-by-paid-and-free-in-the-uk/
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