I had a Freeview box (free broadcast digital TV) in the UK for several years and never bothered to connect it. I think you are supposed to get firmware upgrades, for what that’s worth.

I suspect a lot of users probably think their digital TV is connected to the Internet because it’s digital. That would have been an interesting question to ask.

The three main features I am aware of (outside AcTVila) that use the network are 1) software updates, 2) remote programming, and 3) interactive TV, although the only interactive program I am aware of is 8 pm Friday’s Bakusho Mondai’s Oita’s If I Were Prime Minister, which has a public vote on their topic of discussion.

It’s a good point that most new flats come already plumbed for ethernet and each room has these multi-purpose connection points with mains power, TV, satellite, internet and telephone, so it’s perhaps no surprise that many people just plug everything in.

Indeed, that might have been an interesting question “What do you use the TV internet for?” – perhaps the full paid-for survey included that question.

We do have our television (and DVR) connected, but neither I nor my wife ahve any idea what it’s supposedly good for. When we got them, they had an ethernet port, and we had a free port in the wall, so I stuck a cable in between. Can’t say I’ve ever noticed any use for it – unless, of course, that program guide above uses it in which it’s pretty useful.