More TVs than people in the US

September 25, 2006

The number of television sets has dwarfed the number of people in US households in the past two years, according to Nielsen Media Research.

"There are today 2.73 television sets versus 2.55 people in typical US households," said Gary Holmes, spokesman for Nielsen. "Somewhere between 2001 and 2004, the number of TVs outgrew the number of people."

He attributed that trend to the fact that television sets have become more affordable and to increasing diversity in programming.

"With the proliferation of television channels and programs, there is more desire for everyone in the house to have their own TV set," Holmes said.

He said half of US homes have three or more sets today, and a mere 19 per cent have one set. That is compared to 1975 when 57 per cent of households had one TV set and 11 per cent had three or more.

The increase in the number of television sets coincides with an increase in television viewing, which now stands at eight hours and 14 minutes a day per average household, a record high and a three-minute increase from the 2004-05 season.

The average amount of television watched by an individual viewer increased three minutes per day to four hours and 35 minutes, also a record, Nielsen said.

Holmes said another surprising finding was an increase in the amount of time teenagers, particularly girls, spent watching television.

AFP