Internet television use: Motivations and preferences for watching television online among college students

The present study examined the television viewing habits of college students to determine differences between motivations and preferences for watching television online versus on a broadcast receiver. A convenience sample of 136 RIT students responded to an online survey. The study found that like the TV viewers of the 1980s, television viewers today are still motivated by relaxation, escape, and the desire to pass the time and to socially interact with companions-- no matter which medium. The ability to control the television experience, to choose when to watch programming, and the convenience that Internet television offers are reasons why college students are using alternatives to the traditional broadcast receiver