Survey: iPad users more likely to drop cable TV

More than a third of iPad owners said they were like likely to cancel paid television service in the next six months, twice the rate of people who intend to buy an iPad and three times the rate of the average adult broadband user. Another quarter of iPad owners said they were highly likely to downgrade their cable package.

Greeson said broadcasters may view the survey’s findings as justification for restricting the availability of content online so users will maintain their subscriptions. All four major broadcast networks have already moved to block full episodes of shows available online from being viewed on the television using Google TV.

However, Greeson said content creators might see opportunity for expanding their viewership by creating iPad-centric content.