Americans sure love their TV, but Ohio University students do not watch as much as the typical American household, a recent survey shows.
This could be because of the multi-tasking nature of this generation and the option of downloading TV shows. Instead of tuning in weekly to ABC to catch the latest Grey's Anatomy, students can watch these at their own conveniences via the Internet.
CATVision, OU's on-campus cable network, conducted a survey in January about media usage. According to the survey, 57 percent of the 392 respondents stated that they watched only one to three hours of TV per day. Thirty-one percent said they watched four to six hours per day, followed by 7 percent watching less than an hour per day.
The average household watched more than eight hours of television a day during the 2004-05 TV season ' an increase of more than 12 percent from the previous decade, according to a CNN article from April 2.
The number of TV sets in homes also is on the rise. According to MSN Encarta Online, 835 TVs per 1,000 Americans were estimated to be in use in 2000. CNN reported that in 2006, the typical American home had access to 104 different channels, doubling the number available just six years ago.
Peter Francese, a demographic trends analyst for Ogilvy & Mather in New York, told CNN that people are spending less time watching network television. With more than 100 channel options, Americans watched 7 percent fewer stations available to them in 2000, according to Nielsen Media Research.
A reason for this change, Francese said, can be attributed to more outlet options for entertainment. People now can download television shows from the Internet and watch them on computers, TVs or iPods.
He added that young people are experts in multi-tasking and are not content sitting in front of a TV to watch one program.
I have my TV on a lot
said Adila Prasodjo, a freshman East Green resident. I just don't watch it. 17
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Caitlin Price
