The way we consume media is rapidly changing, with a new report from Ofcom revealing that for the first time, less than half of 16 to 24-year-olds are now watching traditional TV each week. Just 48% of young adults tuned in during an average week last year, compared to 76% five years ago.
The report also highlighted a decline in traditional TV viewing among children aged four to 15, as well as middle-aged viewers and those aged between 65 and 75. However, viewers over 75 slightly increased their traditional TV viewing.
On the bright side, radio saw a resurgence in popularity, with the highest number of weekly radio listeners across all devices in the last 20 years. Commercial radio stations have been particularly successful, with over seven in 10 people tuning in at least once a week.
Streaming services like Spotify also saw a rise in popularity, with 50% of adults using them each week. Music streaming continues to be a major source of income for the record industry.
Despite the decline in traditional TV viewing, TV screens are becoming more popular for watching YouTube content. The report found that 34% of time spent watching YouTube at home is now on a TV set, up from 29% in 2022.
Overall, UK viewers watched more TV and video content at home in 2023, driven by an increase in daily viewing to video-sharing platforms and broadcast video-on-demand services. Subscription streaming services also saw an increase in daily viewing, with Netflix remaining the most popular service.
While the way we consume media may be changing, one thing is clear – the landscape of entertainment is constantly evolving.
