The Diffusion Group (TDG) announced that that one-third of U.S. broadband households now use a game console that is connected to the Internet.

According to the statement, Sony’s PS3 tops the list with 78% of consoles being connected to the Internet, followed by Microsoft’s Xbox 360 at 73%, and Nintendo’s Wii at 54%.

““Today’s game consoles are increasingly connected to the Internet not just to enhance their gaming experience but to access the growing variety of online media” notes Michael Greeson, founding partner and director of research at TDG.

Greeson notes that all three console vendors are aware of the additional revenue that connected platforms can generate. While Microsoft and Sony have long invested in building console-affiliated online media portals, Nintendo has held back, content with focusing on the casual gaming market. As announced recently, however, Wii owners that connect their console to the Internet can now view Netflix Watch Instantly streaming services, assuming they subscribe to the core Netflix service. To give you an idea of the OTT potential of the Wii/Netflix relationship, one-fourth of Wii owners in the U.S. already subscribe to the Netflix DVD-by-mail service, making use of the Netflix streaming service a snap.

For more information visit: www.tdgresearch.com