Survey: 2% of U.S. TV viewing comes from non-traditional devices

Posted by Erina Lin on October 7, 2009 at 4:33 PM

Two percent, or two hours per month, of all TV viewing in the United States happens outside traditional TV devices, Media Post reported.

According to a recent survey conducted by Horowitz Associates, 2 percent represents two hours out of the overall 130.2 hours American TV viewers watch in a month.

Of those who had a PC or laptop, 9 percent, or 13 hours out of 138.6 monthly TV-content consuming hours, is spent on a platform other than a TV set. Among those multichannel viewers who watch TV content on a handheld device, 8 percent, or 12 hours out of the 143.1 monthly hours, is viewed on a platform other than a TV set.

The most popular Web destinations to view videos included YouTube.com, ABC.com. Hulu.com and NBC.com. Those types of programs people watched most on alternative video platforms are scripted dramas (24 percent); news programming (14 percent); comedy shows (13 percent); sports (13 percent); and sitcoms (11 percent).

Thirty-six percent of respondents said they wish all their favorite shows were available online, while another 30 percent wish all TV programmes were available on handheld devices, according to Horowitz.

Although 7 percent said that they would abandon the TV service if all or most programmes were available on their computer, the majority (79 percent) still prefers traditional TV viewing - they would rather watch TV shows on a TV than a computer or handheld device, Media Post reported.