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A five-country 2000 PricewaterhouseCoopers Consumer Technology Survey released Wednesday shows that about 9 out of 10 home Internet users overall are researching information or sending or receiving e-mail, with streaming entertainment at the back of the pack.

When asked their reasons for accessing the Internet from home, 51 percent of Americans mentioned entertainment, such as playing games or streaming music, compared to 42 percent in Australia, 45 percent in the UK, 46 percent in France and 40 percent in Germany. However, the number of entertainment mentions dropped drastically when consumers were asked their primary reasons for going online: 6 percent in the U.S., 2 percent in Australia and 4 percent in Europe.

"The Internet still has a primary purpose for consumers - to help them get things done. In order to make it a viable alternative source for entertainment, broadband access must increase in hand with more compelling content. Until then, TVs and stereos will remain separate entities from PCs in the home," said Kevin Carton, Global Leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers Entertainment & Media Practice.

The fourth annual study surveys consumers in the U.S., UK, France, Germany, and for the first time, Australia. A total of 2500 consumers were surveyed across the five countries (approximately 500 adults in each country) in late summer 2000.

Roughly one-quarter of those surfing the Net in Europe and the U.S. download music from the Internet, which is a negligible year-to-year change. The percentage for Australia also stands at 25 percent. While three quarters of consumers who download or stream music feel it is easy to do, most of them would also cease to do so if they had to pay for each recording - 75 percent in the U.S., 70 percent in Australia and 63 percent in Europe. The majority of these consumers say that accessing music online has exposed them to new artists or new types of music. Additionally, 77 percent of Americans, 78 percent of Australians and 54 percent of Europeans say that doing so has prompted them to go out and buy a particular CD or tape.

While music has made a splash in the online world, the Internet has yet to threaten conventional cinema or TV. Half as many Internet users are downloading or streaming videos and short films compared to music - approximately 12 percent - no threat studios or broadcasters. Very few consumers believe that downloading videos and short films via the Internet is as satisfying as watching them on TV and only a handful feel it has replaced the need to go to the cinema. Like music, more than half of Internet users that stream videos or short films say it would end if they had to pay for each download.

"The recent failures of online entertainment companies such as DEN, pop.com, Pseudo and Scour demonstrate that the business models for online entertainment are not fully developed," said Carton. "While we're beginning to see some successful formats, there is still a long way to go before there is synchronicity among the right content, at the right bandwidth over the right interface. Only then will Internet entertainment achieve its potential and create meaningful new revenue streams for Hollywood."