New Research Reveals Buffer Rage as Tech's Newest Epidemic

BOSTON, March 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/-- IneoQuest Technologies, the global leader in video quality and audience behavioral intelligence solutions, recently commissioned a study to examine the extent to which the OTT viewing population suffers from Buffer Rage, defined as "a state of uncontrollable fury or violent anger induced by the delayed or interrupted enjoyment of streaming video content from over-the-top (OTT) services." With cord cutting on the rise, and nearly three out of every four consumers watching streaming video daily (43 percent) or weekly (31 percent), IneoQuest determined that better understanding the implications of the Buffer Rage epidemic is essential for all members of the OTT value chain.

According to the research, more than half of consumers (51 percent) who watch online/streaming video have experienced rage as a result of their video buffering. The study revealed that two-thirds of respondents (66 percent) claim frustration when a video buffers, with one-in-five (21 percent) citing severe levels of irritation. In fact, the study found that more than one-in-three viewers (34 percent) under the age of 35 suffer from Buffer Rage more frequently than road rage. To view an infographic outlining the risk factors of Buffer Rage, click here.

In many cases, viewers were not able to begin playing streaming content at all, with 27 percent of respondents claiming that buffering most often occurs before a video even starts, and 34 percent experiencing buffering in the first 15 seconds.  This is particularly relevant when, as the study indicated, more than 40 percent of consumers will only wait 10 seconds or less before clicking out of a buffering video, and of these, nearly 40 percent will never attempt to re-watch the video.

The study also highlighted the significant need for OTT service providers to gain deeper insight into end-to-end streaming quality. Consumers surveyed reported that buffering occurs regularly, with 34 percent of respondents encountering buffering problems once in every three video programs and 24 percent experiencing buffering once in every five videos. 

Additional key takeaways from the study include:

• Consumers experience the highest levels of Buffer Rage when watching content on a mobile device (58 percent) and when mid-video buffering occurs (66 percent).
• Nearly a quarter of all consumers (23 percent) and 33 percent of men report that buffering during live sporting events causes the most rage.
• Fifty-five percent of consumers blame their Internet Service Provider (ISP) or Internet connection for buffering video content.

"This data shows that OTT service providers need to do more to ensure the delivery of a more reliable, consistent, enjoyable viewing experience to consumers in order to prevent a rampant Buffer Rage epidemic," said Kurt Michel, Senior Marketing Director at IneoQuest. "IneoQuest gives OTT content owners and service providers the ability to combat the Buffer Rage epidemic by providing intelligence and visibility across the entire OTT value chain, enabling the consistent and reliable delivery of streaming video."

Methodology
The study of 1,000 consumers was commissioned by IneoQuest and conducted by Research Now.

About IneoQuest Technologies
IneoQuest provides the world's leading media companies and service providers the critical insight needed to keep viewers engaged on any device, across any network. Recognized as an industry leader and innovator by Deloitte, Red Herring, Inc., Frost & Sullivan, and others, IneoQuest's patented solutions continue to set the standard for measuring video quality and viewer behavior. To learn more about how IneoQuest is redefining the video experience, visit www.ineoquest.com.  

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160315/344534-INFO

SOURCE IneoQuest Technologies

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