News Americans are moving faster than ever away from traditional TV

Americans are moving faster than ever away from traditional TV

By Cecilia Kang March 11 at 8:46 AM



The Netflix logo is shown in this illustration photograph in Encinitas, California October 14, 2014. REUTERS/Mike Blake


Traditional television watching is declining faster than ever as streaming services become a mainstream feature in American homes, according to new research by Nielsen.

Adults watched an average of four hours and 51 minutes of live TV each day in the fourth quarter of 2014, down 13 minutes from the same quarter of 2013, according to Nielsen’s fourth-quarter 2014 Total Audience Report. Viewing was down six minutes between the fourth quarter of 2013 and 2012. And between 2012 and 2011, viewing time actually increased for live TV.

At the same time, more homes turned to online video, with 40 percent of U.S. homes subscribing to a streaming service such as Netflix, Amazon Instant Video or Hulu compared with 36 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to Nielsen. Netflix is by far the most popular streaming service, in 36 percent of all U.S. homes, and Amazon Instant Video is in 13 percent of homes.

The trends have rattled the entertainment industry, with broadcast and cable networks scrambling to take on new competitors on the Web. Cable networks have seen steep ratings declines, which got much worse in the last six months of 2014. Cable ratings among adults fell 9 percent in 2014, three times the rate of decline over 2013, according to Michael Nathanson, an analyst at Moffett Nathanson research.

“It’s hard to ignore our belief that technology is disrupting viewer consumption of linear network programming,” Nathanson wrote in a recent research note.

In response, companies such as HBO, NBC and CBS are launching their own streaming services. The moves could unleash a fast demise of the cable and satellite industries that have fed TV networks with licensing fees.

Television is still king, with viewers of all ages getting the vast majority of their video entertainment and news from live programs and using time-shifted services such as DVRs. But even older viewers — the stalwarts of traditional TV — are spending less time watching live TV and programs saved on DVRs.

Between 2012 and 2014, viewers ages 50 through 64 watched one hour and 12 minutes less of traditional TV each week; they increased viewing of videos over the Internet by 22 minutes. Viewers ages 35 through 49 watched two hours and five minutes less of traditional TV each week and increased viewing of online videos by 35 minutes.

 

Is the Pope Catholic?

 

Because Comcast/NBC and other cable providers have been fucking the American public for years and they had enough. Once the old people die and we find an alternate high speed internet option they are done and good riddance. Same with land lines, only old people pay a lot of money for them.

 

Amazon Prime, FTW.

 

I have Amazon Prime and Netflix

If it wasn't for sports I'd dump cable but it's hard to cut the cord due to sports

 

i've had netflix stream for 5 years . amazon prime for over a year .. get other stuff off the computer . no cable bill since 2009

 

This will never get old for me. This works on so many levels:

1.) His name is David Davis
2.) He is still trying to look tough with that ridiculous look
3.) The image of him being arrested and scuffling during a simple barber shop visit tickles my funny bone. These folks will get into a fight anywhere anytime.
4.) That look, while incredibly stupid, is actual plausible for a fellow like him.
5.) The thought that the newscaster had to read this story and see the visual and not laugh, which would be impossible for me.

 

"We're the last of a dying breed!"

 

I lose power a lot where I live. I keep a land line because it works when the power is off. You're right though, If I didn't lose power, I'd dump it.

 

this is good for television. Maybe we'll see better than cookie cutter BS, if they know they are getting their asses kicked.

 

Adults watched an average of four hours and 51 minutes of live TV each day in the fourth quarter of 2014...
That's insane! Who watches that much TV every day - and that is the average. We're doomed.

 

I have noticed that most of my coworkers either don't have a TV at all or just watch on their computer. None of them pay for cable TV.

 

No shit!!

This has to be because some fuckers just sit around and watch tv ALL day and fuckin the average right???

 

Maybe because the weather this winter was so terrible that everybody was stuck at home

 

Thanks Obumba!

 

Thats a thought.

I can't imagine watching tv for that long. People are fuckin nuts!

Now lurkin and postin on Dawg's, thats a 24/7 type of activity.

 

I watch things on a tablet or laptop when traveling, but I don't understand how that works in day to day life.

Do they cuddle up with their SO on the couch and stare at a laptop together?

 

BeffO must restrict their limited sexual activity to strictly doggy style.

This is about the only time I could ever be convinced that being gay is a choice.