DVR and Streaming: Primetime Viewing Sees Shift with Younger Viewers

By David Tobia
October 19, 2012

While primetime television consumption is as high as ever, the percentage of viewers watching live programming has dropped. People are watching more content either on DVR playback or on demand through streaming services, according to research firm GfK.
This has resulted in live television viewership during the 8:00-9:00 pm time slot (among those watching some sort of television) to drop from 83 percent in 2008 to 64 percent in 2012.
Recorded program viewing has risen 10 percent to 26 percent of total viewing during this time slot. Video game playing and streaming video services have also increased their share.
The trend is more dramatic for viewers in the 13-32 age bracket, where live television viewing only accounts for 57 percent of the current 8:00-9:00 pm slot.
“The GfK research also noted that the number of viewers using smartphones while in front of their TVs during primetime is at 20 percent, a habit that wasn’t on the radar four years ago, which could speak to the potential of second screen applications,” writes Variety.

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