The net is expanding its ‘sphere of influence’ with each passing day. Recently it has ventured in a territory till now unchartered by any other form or genre of media. It has been reported that online video viewing is eroding the television audience gradually.

BBC/ICM recently carried out a survey in which they interviewed 2,070 people asking them questions regarding their time spent online and how is that affecting their TV viewing schedule.

Quite surprisingly 43% people said that they watch videos online, through computer or via their mobile phone device, and this time spent has eaten into their TV viewing time. Also, 20% people said that they “watch a lot less normal TV as a result of their online mobile viewing”.

Another projection that rings the danger bell for the television industry in future is that out of the rest almost 20% are very much aware of this phenomenon and are attracted to its appeal. It won’t be a surprise if they also deflect to the online brigade and ditch the TV!

But let’s not get too carried away with this, as this survey was carried out in a sample population. This is not an exhaustive survey which will inform one about the national trend but it sure is a sign to indicate what future holds.

Also, one needs to carefully observe what specific section of society is actually driving the segment. Like all gizmo related industries, online video and mobile video is more popular among the yuppie crowd (aged 16-24).

Amongst the young and restless, 28% watch these videos more than once a week, while the average of people watching online videos in the 25-44 age group is a meagre 10%.

With the British television companies going the ‘Yankee’ way of offering whole TV shows online for viewing and ‘vloggers’ getting hyperactive on sites like YouTube and Google videos, its not that distant a time when watching TV will become passé.

Though it still remains to be seen whether the Britons have actually moved over the good ol’ telly or still the idiot box is good to stand on its own. Let us hear on the Brit’naire blog what you have to say about this!!!