The latest study out of Nielsen Research (also covered by MultiChannel News) has a raft of interesting TV statistics. But since we all know how deceiving numbers can be, I thought I’d add a little context to the facts and figures. For your reading pleasure…
Boob Tube-onomics
• There are an average of 111.4 million TV homes in the United States for the 2006-07 TV season.
Given a US population of around 300 Million, with an average household of 2.5 people (see below), this means that roughly 93% of American homes have TVs.
• The average U.S. TV home has 2.5 people and 2.8 television sets.
The primary TV in consumer homes was bought at an average price of $783. Not cheap, but even doubled or tripled it’s a lot less expensive than .5 of a kid for your typical couple.
• 28% of U.S. TV homes have digital cable.
More than half of cable subscribers to the top two cable companies get digital services: 52% of Comcast subscribers and 54% of Time Warner subscribers.
More after the jump…
• 64% of homes have wired cable hook-ups (down from 68% in 2000) and 23% have satellite or specialized antenna systems to receive television signals.
According to another Nielsen statistic, cable penetration reached a 17-year low in February of 61.3%.
• 82% of U.S homes have more than one television set at home.
With no help from the subsidy program, each analog set will cost you between $50 and $75 each in 2009 for a digital converter.
• 84% of U.S. homes have a DVD player.
Guess the streaming media revolution hasn’t hit quite yet…
View Comments
And how many have digital satellite? That's what at least half the people around here have since Adelphia - ahem - Comcast costs so much more and the prices keep rising. We booted out our cable years ago and went with digital satellite via DirecTV then got a DSL/phone/wireless package from Verizon. Not cheap but still cheaper than the digital cable, dsl from Adelphi/cast plus Verizon phone and wireless.
Oh, and I have lifetime Tivo too.
"23% have satellite or specialized antenna systems to receive television signals."
"cable penetration reached a 17-year low"