UK Viewers Continuing To Watch More TV
People in the UK are continuing to watch more broadcast TV, according to the latest BARB figures.
The figures show that total broadcast TV viewing in August was up 13% on August 1993, with total commercial TV viewing up by 21%.
The growth is being driven by commercial TV viewing, with 2.19 hours of commercial TV being watched in August 2008 compared to 1.81 hours in August 1993.
Overall, including BBC channels, people watched an average of 3.7 hours of broadcast TV a day in August 2008, compared to 3.27 hours a day in August 1993.
Young people (16-24s) watched 13% more broadcast TV in August compared to August 1993 (14% more commercial TV), ABC1s watched 15% more (28% more commercial TV).
Thinkbox, the marketing body for the main UK commercial broadcasters, said that the growth in viewing follows a long term trend but was influenced by a number of factors, including the poor weather and the quality programming on offer such as the start of the Barclays Premiership, the economic downturn causing people to stay in more and increased digital TV penetration.
Tess Alps, chief executive of Thinkbox, said: “We expected growth, but even we are rather amazed by these figures. We would happily have swapped some of the increase for a little more sunshine.
“Clearly, British TV is considerably more dependable and enjoyable than our climate.”
BARB: www.barb.co.uk Thinkbox: www.thinkbox.tv