SpeedPlexer Blog

We’ve been talking about Nielsen’s new survey about the services that internet speed makes available to us and whether we’d be willing to pay for them. But now it’s time to see what people around the world are willing to pay for.

Nielsen surveyed more than 27,000 consumers in 52 countries their opinions on paying for content online. Divided into five geographical regions – Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East/Africa/ Pakistan (MEAP), Latin America and North America – it includes respondents of both genders and various ages.

Theatrical Movies are something global consumers are most willing (46%) to pay for; though only 11% actually have. In Latin America and Asia Pacific, more than six in ten consumers express willingness. But MEAP nations are least inclined (38%) and most resistant (51%) to pay.

Music also has over 40% (41%) of participants willing to purchase. MEAP nations are most resistant (53%) to the idea. North Americans come second in not wanting to pay for music (48%), but score highest (20%) among those who already have. I guess just because we do it doesn’t mean we have to like it! Though for radio stations, barely 5% of consumers worldwide have paid to listen, and just 27% would consider it.

Games are universally popular across all lands and age ranges –16% of consumers globally have paid for video games online. Another 35% say they would be willing to buy online games, with those in Asia Pacific (39%), MEAP (38%) and Latin America (37%) scoring above the worldwide average.

Professionally Produced Video has garnered funds from 8% of online consumers and another 42% look favorably on the idea. But once again, Asia Pacific (11%/47%), MEAP (11%/43%) and Latin America (9%/51%) outscore the global average. Among all age groups, 40% would consider paying for video of this quality.

In our previous post,  we talked about Nielsen’s new survey about the services that internet speed makes available to us and whether we’d be willing to pay for them. But does age factor into a willingness to pay?

It turns out, it does.

Of those who are already paying for content or would be willing to do so, people under 20 are10-15% more likely to spend money than those between 40 and 44.  And the ones who are least likely to be willing to pay are the over 65 year olds.

Nielsen explains, “the younger the consumers the more apt they are to have already paid, or be willing to pay, for various types of content. This may seem counterintuitive considering that many so-called ‘digital natives’ know how to end-run pay sites and have done so in the past. But it reflects a realization that they are now in a world where the value of content is platform-agnostic; and video consumed online may be no less valuable than watched on television.”

Translation: older people are unfamiliar with online content and therefore can easily live without it. Whereas younger people see the value in getting information and entertainment delivered online, and are growing with the technology. 

The age gap is most visible when you look at one type of content–the Under 20 crowd is far more likely to pay for games online than people over 40. Otherwise, all age groups agree that theatrical movies, music and games are the top three things worth paying for.  Professionally produced video, and magazines got over 50% approval and newspapers are the next to be deemed worthy. And all age groups also agree that most blogs are the least worth paying for, though 10% of those 65 and older are still willing.

What internet services would you be willing to pay for, if any?

A recent survey from the Nielsen company, (practically the rulers of all things media-ratings-related), asked 27,000 Web users in 52 countries that question, and found that 85% of respondents would like to see free Web content stay free.

But then when they asked if those surveyed would be willing to pay for specific kinds of content delivered with internet speed, the results were not so cut and dry. Some are already paying for things like movies, music, games, magazines, newspapers and social content. Many more, however, said that the paid content needs to be “considerably better” than the available free content before they’re willing to pay. 

Here’s what else they said:
• 78% believe if they already subscribe to a newspaper, magazine, radio or television service they should be able to use its online content for free.
• 79% would no longer use a web site that charges them, presuming they can find the same information at no cost.
• 62% content that once they purchase content, it should be theirs to copy or share with whomever they want.

Almost 50% of respondents would consider paying for online access to a magazine, while a little over 40% said they would pay for newspaper content on the Web. That could be a positive sign for the struggling print industry — though the question remains: how to make that product worth paying for?

Well, L.A Times Tech blog reported, “Wired unveiled a video today demonstrating how its magazine would run on a tablet computer. Last December, Time Inc. showed off a tablet version of Sports Illustrated. No price has been announced on either product.”

We’ve found a couple of stories that spell good news for students via internet speed. First, we noticed a report from Ars Technica that said Congress wants an e-book reader for low-income kids.  More specifically, Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) has submitted a new bill that would update the Federal Communications Commission’s E-Rate program, which subsidizes computer equipment and Internet connectivity for schools. Markey’s proposed E-Rate 2.0 act (H.R. 4619) would, among other provisions, set up a pilot program allowing low-income school kids to apply for “significantly discounted services and technologies for the use of e-books.”

Markey’s bill would also launch a pilot program to allow low-income students to buy residential broadband service. And it would extend E-Rate to community colleges—a great idea actually.

Then, we found this story from Read Write Web telling us how IBM Gives Students A Cloud Filled With Its Tech.  Their targets right now are college students and professors who are being offered the use of IBM software and databases through a cloud infrastructure IBM calls the “Academic Skills Cloud.”

This is a smart move by IBM. It leverages the power of the cloud to offer IBM technology at minimal cost. Plus, it reaches students who will go on to associate IBM with cloud computing as they begin their professional careers.

Courses and work material can be accessed anywhere the student is located, and Professors can teach practices that students will see in the workforce once they graduate. Machines do not need to be continually updated with new software. It’s all available online.

Students who learn about cloud computing today stand a far better chance of adapting to a world where working with online services will be the way business is conducted.