How much live TV do you watch?

How much live TV do you watch?

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES

• Published

  31 July 2024

• 105 Comments

Do you watch TV live? Or do you prefer to catch up online when you want to?

A new study of UK TV habits has revealed that less than half of young adults watch any live television each week.

The research by Ofcom (the Office of Communications) - which oversees TV, radio and internet services in the UK - does regular research into how children and adults consume TV, streaming and online platforms.

It found that just 48% of 16 to 24 year olds tuned in to watch live TV each week in 2023 - around 20 minutes each week.

Children between the ages of four and 15 are also switching off, with only 55% watching traditional TV each week last year.

The research also revealed that most young people chose to watch video-sharing platforms such as YouTube and TikTok instead.

Around 93% of 16 to 24-year-olds chose to watch a video streaming platform in a week, watching on average one hour and 33 minutes of content.

Ofcom says the TV set "remains at the heart of household viewing", but that an increase in its use was mainly being driven by more people using it to watch video-sharing platforms.

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES

Ian Macrae, Ofcom's director of market intelligence said: "Gen Z and Alpha are used to swiping and streaming, not flipping through broadcast TV channels.

"It's no surprise that the traditional TV is fast becoming a device of choice to watch YouTube.

"But while live TV may not have the universal pull it once did, its role in capturing those big moments that bring the nation together remains vital."

Some of the biggest Live TV moments of 2023

• New Year's Eve Fireworks - BBC One, 12.1 million watched live

• The Coronation of The King and Queen Camilla - BBC One, 12 million watched live

• Eurovision Song Contest - BBC One, 10.1 million watched live

• Strictly Come Dancing - BBC One (series 21 finale) - BBC One, 9.9 million watched live

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/crg7d130ljpo