Time shifted viewing growing…very slowly

The proportion of time-shifted TV viewing continues to grow according to Ofcom’s latest Communications Market Report – albeit very slowly.

Since 2007 the proportion of digital video recorder (DVR) and (seven day) catch-up viewing has grown by two percentage points year on year, to reach 11% in 2013. Total viewing minutes overall declined by nine minutes per day: from 240 minutes in 2012 to 232 minutes in 2013, with most of the decrease attributed to live viewing.

However, as a proportion of all viewing, live viewing remains steady; 90% in 2012 and 89% in 2013.

Among all individuals with a DVR in the home, live viewing is also the main way that TV is watched. In 2013 live TV made up 83% of all viewing; one percentage point less than in 2012.

The report states that despite a maturing of the DVR market, the proportion of viewing that is time-shifted has remained virtually static since 2007 at around 15% of total TV viewing. This suggests that the incremental year-on-year growth in time-shifted viewing among all individuals since 2007 can be attributed in the main to increased take-up of DVRs, rather than growth in use among DVR users.

Time-shifted viewing also depends largely on the type of programme, with news and sport largely watched live, while drama and soaps more likely to be recorded and watched through catch-up services.

In 2013, the proportion of time-shifted viewing of drama and soaps ranged from 39.5% to 29.4% of total viewing to each genre respectively.