More than 7000 illegal downloaders were asked by the market research firm Coredata to complete a survey to tell why they download movies and music illegally.

Respondents were asked to choose the reasons for illegally downloading or streaming media for each type of media: TV shows, movies and music. They were also asked how much they would pay for a similar legal and convenient service if it existed.

Findings: Convenience was the most frequent reason, as was the costs involved. Other findings include:

More than two thirds of respondents would be prepared to pay for a similar legal service if it existed.

• Gen Y is prepared to pay more for legal downloads of TV shows and movies than any other age group.
• People between 31 and 50 are more likely to pay top dollar for music.
• The young (under 20) and elderly (61 and over) are least likely to pay for legal content.
• TV shows are illegally downloaded more regularly, and by more people, than movies or music

TV shows

6694 respondents said they had illegally downloaded or streamed a TV show in the past year. Of these, 86.8% said they did so regularly.

1) I’ll have to wait too long to see it on TV (50.7%)
2) I want to be able to watch it whenever I want (41.5%)
3) It doesn’t have ads (38.9%)
4) It isn’t shown on TV at all (35.9%)
5) It’s convenient (35.6%)

1) $1 per episode (39.2%)
2) Nothing (33.6%)
3) $2 per episode (18.7%)
4) $3 per episode (8.4%)

Less than 1 per cent of respondents said they downloaded TV shows to share them with friends.

Movies

5902 respondents said they had illegally downloaded or streamed a movie in the past year. Of these, 72.7% said they did so regularly.

1) Going to the cinema is too expensive (43.5 per cent)
2) It’s convenient (42.4 per cent)
3) I want to be able to watch it whenever I want (42.4 per cent)
4) It’s free (28.7 per cent)
5) It’s an old movie I can’t find on DVD or Blu-ray (25.8 per cent)

1) $2 per episode (45.6%)
2) $5 per episode (28.3%)
3) Nothing (21.6%)
4) $10 per episode (4.4%)

Music

5712 respondents said they had illegally downloaded or streamed music in the past year. Of these, 69.5% said they did so regularly.

1) I want it in MP3 format without copy protection (43.2%)
2) It’s convenient (37.0%)
3) CDs are too expensive (36.5%)
4) It’s free (33.2%)
5) I want to know if I like it before I decide whether to buy it (28.2%)
1) 50c per song (48.8%)
2) Nothing (33.6%)
3) $1 per song (14.7%)
4) $2 per song (2.8%)

Source: Coredata and news.com.au