Remember when we all gathered around the TV at night (or to watch your favorite daytime soaps…admit it!)? Those days are almost over. Everyone is quitting TV.
Television habits of those between 18-49 years-old decreased 3% in 2014. That may not sound like much, but digital viewership (watching on their desktops, laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles) among that age group increased 53% this year. Among older Americans, digital and mobile viewership increased 55% since this time last year, while TV use decreased two percent. Internet video watching ?increased four hours from a year ago.In the 3rd quarter of 2014, Americans watched 141 hours of TV, down 7% from 3rd quarter 2013. Even Nielsen ratings are taking notice. Proposals have been made to change it’s ratings systems to accommodate the ever increasing number of digital viewers. However, TV watching is still by far the most popular way of viewing shows and videos. But if this trend continues for too many years, this too will change.
What’s driving this change? Well, let’s state the obvious: more people own desktops, laptops, smartphones and gaming consoles than ever before, and will continue to do so in the years to come. Plus, more people are getting streaming like Hulu and Netflix. Why pay $100 a month for cable when you can pay $8 a month for a streaming network and you can keep up the same shows anyway? And think about shows like Orange is the New Black and House of Cards. Those shows are exclusively available to Netflix and are getting critical and public acclaim. The fact that 18-49 year olds are turning to digital viewing should be enough to get attention. But now that older Americans are using digital technology, it’s time for us to take notice. And some people are. And since everyone is quitting TV, should more producers and directors seek digital streaming as the new way of things?