The gap between the media consumption of 16-24 year olds and those above 65 is wider than it’s ever been.
The younger generation watch 7x less broadcast television than those 65+, who still tune in for a third of a working day (5 hours and 50 minutes).
On average 16-24 year olds watch broadcast television for 53 minutes a day.
According to Ofcom research 1 in 5 homes (5.2m) are now signed up to all 3 of the main steaming services – Netflix, Amazon and Disney+.
It has led to a change in how the generations approach broadcasting, with 9 in 10 18-24 year-olds heading straight to streaming services (usually Netflix) and by-passing TV channels entirely when they’re searching for something to watch.
That compares to the 65+ age group where 76% tune into linear channels first.
“The streaming revolution is stretching the TV generation gap, creating a stark divide in the viewing habits of younger and older people,” said Ian Macrae, Ofcom’s Director of Market Intelligence.
“Traditional broadcasters face tough competition from online streaming platforms, which they’re partly meeting through the popularity of their own on-demand player apps, while broadcast television is still the place to go for big events that bring the nation together such as the Euro final or the jubilee celebrations.”
While cost of living concerns have seen 350k households unsubscribing from at least one streaming service, 73% said that they would return when there was less pressure on household budgets.
Traditional Broadcasters
The high viewing figures for the Platinum Jubilee and Women’s Euro 2022 final have underlined how important broadcast television is for national events, but overall they are seeing audiences and levels of viewing fall.
However, their on-demand “player” apps are hugely popular, with 82% of people saying they used a PSB on-demand service in the past six months.
That’s around the same amount who said they used at least one streaming service (83%).
59% added that they used the platforms to watch channels and programmes live, at the same time as they were being broadcast on linear channels.
As a result, the average time spent watching services such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and All 4 increased to 15 minutes per day, up by three minutes per person per day.
That supports Channel 4’s proposal to become a digital first PSB.
