41 Stats & Demographics On Broadcast TV Users (2023 Update)

Despite the rise of streaming services and other digital media options, broadcast TV remains a popular and widely-used platform for entertainment and information consumption in the United States.

In this article, we will delve into the latest statistics and demographics of broadcast TV usage.

Age Demographics:

According to recent data, age significantly impacts broadcast TV usage in the United States.

While seniors are the most likely age group to watch broadcast TV, younger generations are slowly shifting away from the platform.

  • Seniors (55 years and above): 63% of those in this age group watch broadcast TV more than any other platform.
    Baby Boomers (aged 35-54): 48% of those in this age group watch broadcast TV more than any other platform.
    Generation X (aged 25-34): 40% of those in this age group watch broadcast TV more than any other platform.
    Millennials (aged 18-24): 26% of those in this age group watch broadcast TV more than any other platform.
  • These numbers show that broadcast TV remains the most popular platform among older generations, while younger generations are gradually shifting towards other platforms.

Gender Demographics:

Recent data also shows that there are slight differences in broadcast TV usage between genders in the United States.

Male: 55% of males watch broadcast TV more than any other platform.
Female: 49% of females watch broadcast TV more than any other platform.

These numbers suggest that males are slightly more likely to watch broadcast TV than females in the United States.

Quite different from the demographics of sport radio listeners.

Socioeconomic Status:

Broadcast TV usage also varies based on income levels and education in the United States.

  • Lower income households: 54% of households with an income less than $30,000 per year primarily use broadcast TV.
    Higher income households: 30% of households with an income above $75,000 per year primarily use broadcast TV.
  • These numbers show that broadcast TV remains a popular platform among lower-income households in the United States, while higher-income households are more likely to use other platforms.

Geographic Location:

Broadcast TV usage also varies based on geographic location in the United States.

  • Urban areas: 47% of urban residents primarily use broadcast TV.
    Rural areas: 58% of rural residents primarily use broadcast TV.

These numbers suggest that broadcast TV remains a popular platform in rural areas of the United States, while urban areas are more likely to use other platforms.

Broadcast TV User Behavior:

According to recent data, news and sports are the most popular types of programming watched on broadcast TV in the United States.

  • News consumption: 62% of American adults still receive their news from broadcast TV.
    Sports: 30% of broadcast TV viewers watch live sports.

Broadcast TV Decline:

While broadcast TV remains a popular platform, recent data shows a decline in its viewership in the United States.

According to a recent study, the number of households in the US that rely solely on broadcast TV has dropped by 34% since 2015.

In addition, the average number of hours spent watching broadcast TV has declined by 19% since 2015.

Broadcast TV Revenue and Industry Overview:

  • According to a report by Statista, the revenue of the U.S. broadcast television industry was estimated to be around 28.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.
  • The same report projected that the industry’s revenue would increase to 28.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2021.
  • The majority of broadcast TV revenue comes from advertising. According to the Television Bureau of Advertising, broadcast TV advertising revenue in the U.S. was approximately 17.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.
  • In 2020, the four major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC) accounted for 74% of all broadcast TV ad revenue in the U.S.
  • The average cost of a 30-second national TV ad during prime time in the U.S. was approximately $115,000 in 2020, according to AdAge.

Broadcast TV Program Statistics:

  • According to a study by Nielsen, in the 2020-2021 TV season, the top three most-watched genres on broadcast TV were drama, comedy, and reality TV.
  • In the same study, the top three most-watched individual TV programs on broadcast TV were Sunday Night Football, NCIS, and The Masked Singer.
  • The length of a standard TV commercial on broadcast TV is typically 30 seconds, although 15-second and 60-second commercials are also common.
  • The number of commercials during a single hour of broadcast TV programming varies, but the average is approximately 16 minutes of commercials per hour.
  • Broadcast TV networks typically offer a mix of local and national programming. Local programming includes news, weather, and sports, while national programming includes network shows and live events.

Broadcast TV Technology and Consumption:

  • According to a report by the National Association of Broadcasters, approximately 73 million households in the U.S. rely on broadcast TV as their primary source of television.
  • The rise of streaming services has led to a decline in broadcast TV viewership. According to a report by eMarketer, the number of U.S. households that watch broadcast TV is expected to decline from 77.5 million in 2019 to 68.7 million in 2024.
  • Despite this decline, broadcast TV still has a significant reach. In the 2020-2021 TV season, the top 10 most-watched TV programs were all broadcast TV shows, according to Nielsen.
  • Broadcast TV is transmitted over the airwaves using a network of TV broadcast towers. In order to receive broadcast TV signals, viewers must have an antenna.

Concluding On the Data

The data shows that broadcast TV is still a significant player in the media landscape, even as the rise of streaming services has impacted traditional viewing habits. The demographics of broadcast TV viewership reveal some interesting trends, particularly in terms of age and income.

For example, while younger generations are more likely to cut the cord and move to streaming platforms, seniors are still the only generation in the US that watches cable TV in significant numbers.

Additionally, lower-income households are more reliant on broadcast TV, with 64% of households earning less than $30,000 per year primarily using cable networks.

Geographic location also plays a role in broadcast TV usage, with rural areas showing a dominance of cable networks due to limited internet connectivity. Meanwhile, urban areas have seen a significant shift towards streaming services.

Remote for VIZION TV held in fron of TV

Despite these changes, broadcast TV continues to be an important part of American media consumption. News consumption, for instance, remains heavily reliant on broadcast TV, with 49% of American adults still receiving their news from cable TV.

The decline of cable TV subscribers has been ongoing for several years, with the industry losing 2.8 million subscribers in 2020 alone.

Still Good Margins

However, the major cable news channels (CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC) generated a total of $5.7 billion in revenue in 2020, demonstrating the continued profitability of cable networks.

Broadcast TV networks continue to offer a wide range of programming options, from news and sports to movies and TV shows.

The most-watched broadcast TV networks in the United States include ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox, with viewership numbers in the millions.

The rise of streaming services has impacted broadcast TV, but the data shows that traditional viewing habits still hold significant weight in the media landscape.

As technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how broadcast TV adapts and innovates to keep up with changing consumer preferences.

Final Thoughts

While streaming services may be on the rise, broadcast TV remains an important part of American media consumption. As we have seen, there are demographic, geographic, and behavioral factors that influence broadcast TV usage.

Despite the decline in cable TV subscribers, the industry continues to generate significant revenue, and major broadcast TV networks remain some of the most-watched channels in the United States. As we move forward, it will be important to continue tracking the evolution of broadcast TV and its role in shaping the media landscape.

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