Almost 800 TV fans responded to the survey, which was conducted on local TV websites earlier this year.

The research shows most people know unauthorised downloading is illegal, but 97per cent of downloaders still use peer-to-peer file-sharing sites, commercial websites such as YouTube, and friends as their main sources of content.

According to Zuchetti, people are tired of watching shows when it’s convenient for the networks, instead of when it suits them.

“People want more ways to access shows,” Zuchetti says. “‘I can now get everything I want from channel BitTorrent, so the commercial networks are going to get what’s coming to them’ — that is typical of what people are saying.”

The research shows 19 per cent of downloaders don’t want to wait for local networks to screen their favourite overseas programs, a further 18 per cent time-shift their viewing to watch programs on demand, and another 17 per cent are accessing programs not screened here.

All of the free-to-air networks are experimenting with making clips from programs available over the internet, with Ten’s podcasts of its comedy Thank God You’re Here just one example.

The network has also screened shows such as The OC and Jericho within 24 hours of their US debut in order to reduce the temptation for fans to go online.

Media buyer Steve Allen from Fusion Strategy says the downloading figures are higher than expected.

According to Free TV Australia, downloading is not affecting viewing levels, which rose 0.7 per cent this year in metropolitan centres.

Allen says while the pressure on the networks is increasing, downloading is unlikely to affect TV viewing by even a single ratings point. “I don’t believe that time-shift viewing is going to … have a major impact on TV,” he says. “We’ve got a couple of examples of shows going to air within 24 hours and it’s made no difference to their viewing levels.

“Desperate Housewives, Lost and Prison Break were all available illegally over the internet last year,” Allen says. “The minute we get the next stage of true broadband, this will become far more a case not of how many people download content, but how often they do it.”

Zuchetti says people who regularly download programs still watch free-to-air TV in order to discuss the shows. “There’s a real cultural divide between downloaders and non-downloaders. The downloaders had to come back and see where Australian viewing was up to, so they could contribute to discussions here.”

Lost was the most downloaded show, the study revealed, followed by Veronica Mars, House, Prison Break and Dr Who.

Paid downloads are among the options local TV operators are exploring to make more shows available on demand: Yahoo7 has flagged its intention to make fresh episodes of TV shows available over the internet for a price. Ten has meanwhile made clips from Australian Idol available to watch with pre and post-roll video ads.

According to Zuchetti’s study, a slight majority (53 per cent) of respondents say they are prepared to pay for content, but one in three will not.

“The most popular option would be to offer the choice of the two: paid, or free downloads with advertising,” he says.