US Internet TV Users Soaring

US Internet TV users are climbing faster than expected.

The number of U.S. digital TV users -- those viewing at least one TV show per month via the Internet -- will climb 37% in four years to 145 million in 2017 from 106 million in 2012. This amounts to digital TV user growth climbing at a 6.9% compound annual growth rate, quicker increases that previously forecasted in August 2012 by eMarketer. Next year, it says digital TV viewers will cross a critical tipping point -- surpassing 50% of the U.S. Internet user population. Those users who watch at least one movie per month on any Internet-capable device will climb to 115 million in 2017 from nearly 80 million in 2012, a 9.7% annual growth rate.