While in past, viewers cozied up to their televisions with a bowl of popcorn and a soda to watch their favorite shows, today’s television experience is much different as more consumers are choosing to watch video entertainment via their mobile devices.

In fact, more than half of U.S. consumers believe smartphones and tablets will become the most common devices used to consume video entertainment, moving traditional TV to second place within eight years, according to a new survey from GLDS interface partner, Irdeto. Other interesting findings include:

• 60 percent of the “Netflix” generation (i.e. 18-24 year olds) prefers to watch a full series at once, without waiting a week or more in between new episodes.
• 31 percent of people believe they will be using a smart TV to watch movies and television within five years.
• Consumer demand for 4K TV is gaining speed; however it still has a ways to go with only 18 percent of consumers being “very interested” and 40 percent being “somewhat interested” in purchasing a 4K/Ultra HD television.

“In the past 10 years, we’ve seen mobile devices eclipse the consumer landline telephone market, and we’re seeing a similar fundamental shift in the television industry,” said Richard Frankland, Vice President of Sales, Americas, Irdeto.

With consumers no longer tuning into the “tube,” traditional pay-TV providers must provide TV Everywhere (TVE) services – or a model wherein subscribers can watch television shows on their mobile devices – or risk losing thousands of customers.