Ofcom’s latest UK study of media consumption across age groups shows declining interest in television among young people.
Just 48 percent of Britons aged 16 to 24 watch TV at least once a week. This is a sharp decline seen in recent years. As recently as 2018, more than three-quarters (76%) young people used to watch television. This has changed with the growing popularity of digital platforms, especially TikTok and YouTube – says the Ofcom report.
However, young people who sit in front of the TV screen spend 33 minutes a day on this activity. For comparison purposes, teenagers spend an average of one hour more on apps and video platforms.
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Television does not attract young people
The negative trend in television viewing is also visible in even younger age groups. Only 55 percent of children aged 4 to 15 watch TV once a week, while in 2018 this figure was 81 percent – describes Ofcom.
– Gen Z and Alpha are used to streaming rather than flicking through TV channels. They want flexibility and instant choice, and that’s what on-demand services offer. They spend more than three hours a day watching video, but only 20 minutes of live TV, says Ian Macrae, director of market research at Ofcom.
The analysis indicates that television today attracts young viewers almost exclusively through live sporting events. A good example is the Euro 2024 final match between England and Spain. It attracted up to 15.1 million viewers.
Television is the main medium of communication for older people – up to 95 percent of people over 65 still watch it regularly.
