It’s easier than ever for TV addicts to get the fix of whatever programmes they’re crazy for, but new research suggests that general awareness of video-on-demand services available online has still not taken off as its proponents would have hoped.

A vox pop carried out for the marketing trend-watchers at Brand Republic magazine suggests that people know little about what is available and where it can be viewed.

The main exception to this was the BBC iPlayer, which was cited by most as the online TV service with which they were most familiar, while the similar catch-up services offered by ITV and Sky did not register such wide recognition.

The news was even worse for Channel 4, whose 4oD service was not mentioned by a single respondent, despite the Channel’s heavy plugging of the facility in its programme trails and online.

Complaints about the viewing quality of the on-demand services available were widespread, with slow streaming blamed for disrupting several people’s attempts to tune into TV shows online.

There was also resistance to pre-roll advertising, which was described by one of those surveyed, a 24-year-old woman, as “annoying”.