Ofcom's annual report on UK media trends was releasedyesterday, packed with fascinating insights about how we consume audio, video, news and all kinds of on-demand streaming. [94 page pdf]
Fascinating insights include...
Over a typical month,
...more of us watch video on demand (85%) than live TV (67%)
...more of us listen to live radio (68%) than streamed music (62%)
...more of us read a printed book (53%) than an ebook (28%)
...more of us listen to podcasts (35%) than read a printed newspaper (25%)
...84% of those over 75 watch TV on a TV set, but only 49% of 15-24s
» Streamed music and going to the cinema peak on a Thursday evening
» Streamed video-on-demand peaks on a Saturday evening
» Watching TV on a TV set peaks on a Sunday evening
» Broadcast video-on-demand peaks on a Monday evening
» YouTube, gaming and social media peak on a Tuesday evening
The average Briton spends 4 hours 30 minutes a day watching video content at home.
For broadcast TV that's 1h42m watching live, 25m of on demand and 23m of recorded playback.
In addition that's 51m on video-sharing platforms, 40m of on demand and 29m of 'other TV set usage'.
Over 65s watch 6 hours 20 minutes a day, but 16-24s only 3 hours 20 minutes.
YouTube is increasingly watched on TV sets, the number of viewers up 7% in the last year.
22% of BBC broadcast content is watched on demand, up from 14% two years ago.
In 2022 53% of EastEnders' audience was watching on demand, this year that's up to 74%.
When asked where they turn first when switching on the TV set, most people still say BBC1, followed by ITV1, Netflix, YouTube and iPlayer. But this hides a huge variation between viewers of different ages...
Of UK households...
...59% are subscribed to Netflix
...46% are subscribed to Amazon Prime Video
...25% are subscribed to Disney+
...two-thirds are subscribed to at least one, and 19% to all three.
Ofcom's report confirms that the BBC was still the most-watched broadcaster/service in 2024, accounting for 19% of all in-home video viewing. But YouTube is now the second-most-watched service, nudging ahead of ITV, as the 20-year-old video streamer comes of age. It is quite frankly amazing that so many people turn to YouTube to watch such amateur delights as MLB Hitters Can't Touch This Pitch, London's 5 Unmissable Fish and Chip Shops and How Many Items Can Guests Carry In Rollercoaster Tycoon? when proper programmes are available.
This evolution in our viewing habits has prompted Ofcom to recommend that Public Service Media place more of their content on YouTube or face increasing irrelevance in the years ahead.
So today I'm making the leap to sharing my posts as video-based content, ensuring that more youthful audiences can discover and embrace my ongoing Public Service Media output. Now you can enjoy this blog on your commute with your pods in, and all without having to read that tiny text on the horrible grey background in a non-mobile friendly template any more.
