BitTorrent Claims Users Have Higher Rate of Purchasing Movies Than Average Internet User

In a survey of 2,500 users, BitTorrent discovered that its users are more likely to purchase or rent movies than the average Internet user. In fact, according to the results of the survey, which was conducted in September, 60 percent of its users said they bought or rented movies in disc format, and 52 percent said they had bought or rented at least one movie in the past month. This news is seen as unusual because, as discussed in a previous post, BitTorrent is a file-sharing website typically associated with piracy; meanwhile, this survey suggests that BitTorrent users aren't as illicit as they are made out to be.

Broken down by activity in the past year, 47% of respondents said they watched a movie in the theater; 38% said they bought a DVD or Blu-ray Disc title; 23% utilized a subscription streaming service; 23% bought a digital movie; 22% said they rented a disc; and 16% said they bought a transactional VOD movie rental.

The platform said 52% of 2,500 respondents in an online survey conducted in September said they bought or rented at least one movie in the past month. Another 16% said they acquired or rented at least one movie in the past few days; 12% in the past week; and 17% in the past six months.

BitTorrent said users spend an average of $54 a year on movies, with 35% of respondents spending more than $100. Notably, 60% of respondents said they buy or rent movies on disc.

I find it fascinating that BitTorrent users are being shown in a positive (for the industry) light, as most articles condemn them as pirating, heartless criminals with no concern for the laws of the land or the jobs in the industry. Those who pirate films are usually viewed as unwilling to spend money on the media they claim to appreciate, which can be true (I mean, hey, money isn't easy), but I believe this survey shows that while these users may pirate films, they are also willing to support the things they really love.

Source:
Gruenwedel, E. (2014, November 25). BitTorrent: our users buy/rent more movie discs | Home Media Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.homemediamagazine.com/research/bittorrent-our-users-buyrent-more-movie-discs-34690