TV Basics Time Spent Viewing: Households and Persons

TV Basics: Time Spent Viewing: Households and Persons

Time Spent Viewing: Households

The time Americans spend viewing television has been growing steadily since the medium first emerged nearly 60 years ago. This growth was fueled by a variety of factors over the decades: multi-set and color TV households increased, the selection of 24-hour programming options expanded, and such technologies as the VCR and DVR gave viewers ever increasing control. By 2008, time spent viewing TV was at an all-time high.

Per TV Home - Per Day
Annual Averages

1950	4 hrs. 35 mins.
1955	4 hrs. 51 mins.
1960	5 hrs. 06 mins.
1965	5 hrs. 29 mins.

1970	5 Hr. 56 Min.
1971	6 Hr. 2 Min.
1972	6 Hr. 12 Min.
1973	6 Hr. 15 Min.
1974	6 Hr. 14 Min.
1975	6 Hr. 7 Min.
1976	6 Hr. 18 Min.
1977	6 Hr. 10 Min.
1978	6 Hr. 17 Min.
1979	6 Hr. 28 Min.
1980	6 Hr. 36 Min.
1981	6 Hr. 45 Min.
1982	6 Hr. 48 Min.
1983	7 Hr. 2 Min.
1984	7 Hr. 8 Min.
1985	7 Hr. 10 Min.
1986	7 Hr. 8 Min.
1987	7 Hr. 1 Min.
1988	7 Hr. 3 Min.
1989	7 Hr. 1 Min.
1990	6 Hr. 53 Min.
1991	7 Hr. 0 Min.
1992	7 Hr. 5 Min.
1993	7 Hr. 13 Min.
1994	7 Hr. 16 Min.
1995	7 Hr. 17 Min.
1996	7 Hr. 11 Min.
1997	7 Hr. 12 Min.
1998	7 Hr. 15 Min.
1999	7 Hr. 26 Min.
2000	7 Hr. 35 Min.
2001	7 Hr. 40 Min.
2002	7 Hr. 44 Min.
2003	7 Hr. 58 Min.
2004	8 Hr. 1 Min.
2005	8 Hr. 11 Min.
2006	8 Hr. 14 Min.
2007	8 Hr. 14 Min.
2008	8 Hr. 21 Min.

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Annual Averages, 1994-present estimates based on start of broadcast season September to September. Beginning in 2007, estimates include Live+7 HUT viewing. Prior to 9/87: Audimeter Sample; 9/87 to present: People Meter Sample.

Time Spent Viewing: Persons

Traditionally, women in TV households have spent the most time viewing television, averaging over 5 hours a day in recent years. Men are next, with over 4.5 hours of daily viewing since 2005. Teens and children have been viewing at about the same levels, nearing the 3.5 hour mark. In 2008, Men increased to 4:49. Women, still No. 1, increased to 5:25. Teens increased to 3:27, and Children were up to 3:28.

Per Person - Per Day
Annual Averages

Year	Men	Women	Teens	Children
1988	3:59	4:41	3:18	3:22
1989	3:58	4:39	3:09	3:28
1990	3:51	4:28	3:15	3:18
1991	4:01	4:36	3:16	3:11
1992	4:02	4:40	3:10	3:08
1993	4:04	4:41	3:07	3:07
1994	4:02	4:39	3:05	3:06
1995	4:02	4:38	3:02	3:07
1996	3:58	4:34	2:49	2:59
1997	3:56	4:33	2:54	3:03
1998	3:57	4:33	2:58	2:57
1999	4:02	4:40	3:02	2:58
2000	4:11	4:46	3:04	3:07
2001	4:19	4:51	3:04	3:12
2002	4:22	4:58	3:09	3:10
2003	4:29	5:05	3:07	3:14
2004	4:26	5:07	3:07	3:16
2005	4:31	5:17	3:19	3:19
2006	4:35	5:17	3:22	3:26
2007	4:39	5:19	3:24	3:27
2008	4:49	5:25	3:27	3:28

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Annual Averages, 1994-present data based on start of broadcast season September to September. Beginning in 2007, estimates include Live+7 PUT viewing plus DVR playback.

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