Ofcom: TVs in decline in UK homes

After years of consecutive growth, the number of television households in the UK is falling for the first time, according to new research from Ofcom.

TV households fell from 26.33 million at the end of 2012 to 26.02 million at the end of 2013, as viewers increasingly turn to alternative devices.

The report revealed that there are now nearly one million homes with broadband but no TV. Catch-up content in particular was found to be growing in importance as it is consumed on a number of devices including tablets, smartphones, computers and games consoles.

Ofcom’s chief executive, Ed Richards, said that digital infrastructure is “crucial” to the UK’s future, and while Britain is continuing to make “real progress,” there is more to be done.

“We need to continue asking whether collectively we are doing enough to build the infrastructure of the future, and to maintain the competition that benefits consumers and businesses,” said Richards.

“The way consumers interact with their TV, phone and broadband is changing as fast as technology is evolving. Our challenge is to keep supporting competition and innovation, while also helping to improve coverage across the country – particularly in hard-to-reach areas where mobile and home internet services need to improve.”