Internet seen becoming primary news source in Europe

The Internet has overtaken newspapers and magazines as Europeans' main source of news and feature-type information, according to a new study quoted by an AFP report.

The AFP report, quoting JupiterResearch said television however continues to be the dominant medium for most people, with Europeans spending three times as much time watching program as going online.

On average, Europeans spend an average of four hours per week online, compared to three hours reading newspapers and magazines, it added.

In 2003 they spent only two hours a week online.

'The fact that Internet consumption has passed print consumption is an important landmark for the establishment of the Internet in the European media mix,' JupiterResearch's vice-president Mark Mulligan was quoted as saying.

The AFP report further said the main factors affecting Internet use are age and broadband access, according to the report.

So for example France, which has the highest rates of broadband household access, also registers the highest average hours spent online whereas Germany ranks lowest in both cases, the report said.

But Germany has the highest weekly TV consumption time at 14 hours due to widespread availability of free-to-air multi-channel TV. The lowest consumption rate can be found in Italy, Spain and Sweden, the report said.