Nielsen Three Screen Report: 99 percent of video still viewed on a TV

Yes you read that right, despite internet video growing at a rapid pace, 99 percent of video viewed in America is still done the old fashioned way. And although this is pretty crazy in and of itself, what's even more shocking is that while we've all but completely abounded linear TV, most only use their DVRs to watch about an hour of TV a week. But what this report really seems to prove more than anything else is that just like TV didn't kill radio, the internet and DVRs aren't going to kill TV as we know it, and instead the total number of hours wasted in front of one of the three screens is just going to keep getting higher and higher until the whole world comes crashing down -- or something like that.

[Jeff Kibuule Posted Dec 8th 2009 7:14PM]

But, does that video signal came from cable/satellite/OTA? And I find it hard to believe that people spent 30hrs a week watching TV live and only an hour on a DVR (unless it's a proportion than 1 family for every 30 families watches TV only on a DVR basis)

[nrb Posted Dec 8th 2009 7:35PM]

I wonder what percentage of families don't have a DVR? I know I don't.

[kcmurphy88 Posted Dec 8th 2009 9:35PM]

@nrb
I wonder what percent of adults can WORK a DVR. If they had clocks, would they all be flashing "12:00"?

[jedi Posted Dec 9th 2009 9:14AM]

The beauty of a DVR is that the clock sets itself.

You don't have to futz with any manual recording schedules. Now that's not to say that there are NO recording schedules to futz with. They're just a lot more "abstract". Although for some people "record all episodes of Supernatural anywhere" is still a little too much.

Dunno about the 1:30 ratio though. That sounds like a sampling problem.

[DannyMac Posted Dec 8th 2009 7:23PM]

Oh yeah... I still watch television on a TV... it's just that all the content is delivered by a HTPC. ;)

[sivartk Posted Dec 8th 2009 8:27PM]

If I watch on a traditional TV using the internet through an HTPC, where does that fall on this survey. Even more confusion when I watch time shifted (Hulu) programs on that HTPC :)

[MJGAMER 1991 XBL Posted Dec 8th 2009 8:42PM]

First off, these results are completely messed up. Second, what is P2+? I read the source and it doesn't state what it is.

[MJGAMER 1991 XBL Posted Dec 8th 2009 8:44PM]

Actually nvm; It probably means population 2+ because that's the only thing that would make sense.

[kcmurphy88 Posted Dec 8th 2009 9:33PM]

@MJGAMER 1991 XBL

Or, parents of two or more

[kcmurphy88 Posted Dec 8th 2009 9:32PM]

Well, from these we find: 1) Someone must not be sleeping to make up for my 5 hours of CNN a week. 2) I have one of the few DVRs since that I watch 10-20 times more than "average." and 3) Does no one else watch discs?

[MJGAMER 1991 XBL Posted Dec 8th 2009 9:52PM]

@kcmurphy88 Physical media was so 2 weeks ago...

BTW, I watch like 3-4 hours of DVR a day, so the people that use DVR must be under 2% for these numbers to be viable; and to be an accurate test, they shouldn't have even counted people without one.

[JDM Posted Dec 9th 2009 12:09AM]

"we've all but completely abounded linear TV"

This line doesn't make sense, there has to be a better way to express that.

Do people really spend an average of 30 hours a week watching video? I guess I can understand the 65+ crowd watching a lot, you have some spare time if you're not working.

[TraderMike Posted Dec 9th 2009 11:47AM]

@JDM I was scratching my head over that line too.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 9th 2009 12:54AM]

I'm surprised that the middle-age cohort spends more time watching video over the internet. I'd think it would be much younger.

[TimeZone Posted Dec 9th 2009 5:49PM]

I don't think Nielsen really has a clue about any ratings on shows or who is really watching what. I know they take samples of a small group and even then i guess have to rely on what they are being told, though maybe they are getting better data from new technology... I know years a go once I was surveyed by Nielsen. Can't remember if I had to write things down that were being watched or not, seems like a person did call once or twice and ask, but it was really inaccurate I know. I used to watch big satellite NBA basketball feeds and stuff back then, and I don't think they even had a good way of keeping up with stuff like that. Also I might have the TV on, but not be closely watching a program or perhaps be on a news channel... I think the whole ratings thing is a joke... Who really knows what is being watched. I know I'm certainly not watching American Idol or Dancing with the stars...