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They have been threatening computers - desktops and notebooks - for a while now, and now it seems that tablets and smartphones could pose a threat to an established part of many households - the television. At least, this is what a report released by Accenture’s new 2012 Global Consumer Electronics Products and Services Usage suggests. As per the survey, there will be comparatively lesser sales of televisions this year and there also will be a reduction in the times consumer spend watching content on them. As gadgets evolve, consumers are rapidly inclining more towards devices like smartphones and tablets to view content online.

According to Mitch Cline, global managing director, Accenture’s Electronics & High-Tech Group,  “Craving an always-on, always-connected lifestyle, consumers are increasingly using other consumer electronics devices in their daily lives to access the entertainment that only TV once provided. While consumers will no doubt continue to buy TVs, consumers’ preferences are shifting. They are rapidly substituting other screens, such as laptops, desktops, tablets and smartphones, to view media content.”

The annual survey report shows that there has been a huge percentage drop in the number of consumers watching broadcast or cable TV in a typical week on televisions. The percentage went down from 71 per cent in 2009 to 48 per cent in 2011. Also, the percentage of consumers who intend to buy a TV set during the next 12 months declined from 35 per cent in 2010 to 32 per cent in 2011.

The research also showed a growth in the usage of smartphones and tablets. When asked about their plans to purchase consumer electronics devices in 2011 and 2012, the percentage of respondents who planned to purchase a smartphone rose from 24 per cent for last year to 27 per cent for this year, while for the tablets, the percentage went from 8 per cent last year to 16 per cent this year. The report says that consumer electronics devices are increasingly being used for entertainment purposes - 44 per cent of tablet users stream media content, and 43 per cent download applications at least once per week.

In terms of online services and cloud computing, the report suggests that more than half (56 per cent) of the survey respondents showed a behavioral change in usage of these. While nearly 32 per cent of the respondents stopped, or almost stopped, renting or buying DVDs, about 25 per cent shared more personal content with family and friends, and 19 per cent accessed their personal content from their mobile or tablet devices. 75 per cent used an online mailbox, 37 per cent played online games, and 26 per cent streamed media content.

The 18-34 years age group seemed more inclined towards the usage of online services, with 47 per cent playing online games and 36 per cent streaming media content. As far as downloading applications is concerned, 64 per cent of respondents indicated that they usually download apps from consumer electronics device manufacturers and software provider’s application stores out of which 69 per cent use information applications (news, weather and sports); 58 per cent use networking applications (social/professional networking); and 56 per cent use entertainment applications (music, single or group games, and videos).

Finally, when asked that what would make them incline towards buying television sets, more than half of the respondents stressed on the price in budget; 42 per cent preferred to have television with high-definition resolution. However, only 25 per cent desired  3D functionality in a new TV, while 25 per cent showed an interest in buying a TV with the ability to connect to the Web to access the Internet and personal content.