X

  • Client Login
  • United States
    • ---Regions---
    • Europe
    • Mainland China
    • India
    • Latinoamérica (Latin America)
    • Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan
    • Southeast Asia, North Asia and Pacific
    • Sub-Saharan Africa
    • -------------
    • Algeria
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Bahrain
    • Bangladesh
    • Беларусь (Belarus)
    • Belgium
    • Brasil (Brazil)
    • България (Bulgaria)
    • Cameroun (Cameroon)
    • Canada
    • Centroamérica (Central America)
    • Chile
    • Mainland China
    • Colombia
    • Crna Gora (Montenegro)
    • Hrvatska (Croatia)
    • Cyprus
    • Česká republika (Czech Republic)
    • Danmark (Denmark)
    • Deutschland (Germany)
    • República Dominicana (Dominican Republic)
    • Ecuador
    • Egypt
    • España (Spain)
    • Eesti (Estonia)
    • France
    • Ghana
    • Ελλάδα | Greece
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • ישראל (Israel)
    • Italia (Italy)
    • Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
    • 日本 (Japan)
    • Jordan
    • Ireland
    • Казахстан (Kazakhstan)
    • Kenya
    • Kuwait
    • Latvija (Latvia)
    • Lebanon
    • Lietuva | Lithuania
    • Македонија (Macedonia)
    • Magyarország (Hungary)
    • Malaysia
    • México
    • Morocco
    • Myanmar
    • Nederland (Netherlands)
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • Nigeria
    • Norge (Norway)
    • Oman
    • Österreich (Austria)
    • Pakistan
    • Peru
    • Philippines
    • Polska (Poland)
    • Portugal
    • Puerto Rico
    • Qatar
    • România
    • Россия (Russia)
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Slovenská republika (Slovakia)
    • Slovenija (Slovenia)
    • South Africa
    • Srbija (Serbia)
    • Sri Lanka
    • Suomi (Finland)
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Schweiz | Switzerland | Svizzera | Suisse
    • Sverige (Sweden)
    • Tanzania
    • Taiwan
    • ประเทศไทย (Thailand)
    • Tunisia
    • Türkiye (Turkey)
    • Uganda
    • Ukraine
    • United Arab Emirates
    • United Kingdom
    • Uruguay
    • United States
    • Venezuela
    • Việt Nam
    X
Nielsen Logo Nielsen Logo
MENU
  • Insights
  • Solutions
  • News Center
  • About

Newswire

Do We Watch the Web the Same Way We Watch TV Not Really

Digital | 02-04-2010
Email Share

separate addresses by comma

Jon Gibs, Vice President for Insights, Online and Cross Media

While we are not yet spending 90% of our time watching "glowing rectangles" as The Onion joked last year, Americans are consuming more and more video across all three screens (TV, Web, Mobile) according to our recent A2/M2 Three Screen Report. But do we watch TV online the same way we watch on our living room TV?

Looking at Nielsen's online panel data of U.S. visitors to online TV sites (ABC.com, CBS.com, CWTV.com, Hulu.com, or NBC.com) in the last 30 days, we actually found more differences than similarities when it came to viewing behavior, demographics, and even ad effectiveness. Demographically, those watching online TV Network video are closer to DVR users by gender breaks, but closer to the general online population relative to age.

The broader usage patterns suggest that online video is, for the most part, a replacement of DVR use, or used by those who do not have immediate access to TV. In short, TV network content online is used to catch up with programming, and not typically as a replacement for TV viewing as results from our email survey showed.

What are some of the reasons you watch

TV shows on the Internet?

Question%
I forgot to watch a specific episode when it aired on TV54%
I am catching up on the current season of programming because I missed a large number of episodes47%
I am catching up on a past season of a program before the next season airs33%
I forgot to record a specific episode with my DVR or TiVo when it aired on TV32%
Another member of my household watches another program at the same time as the show I want to watch18%
I watch TV programming online when I am at work12%
I watch TV programming online when I travel12%
Source: The Nielsen Company - January 2009

When We Watch

Online TV Network consumption appears to be an activity set aside in specific sessions from most other online activities. When we go online to watch TV shows, that activity dominates that particular online session, with women and the 18-34 crowd spending the biggest parts of their sessions on network viewing.

Percent of Session Time Watching Video

On Broadcast Site When Session Involves

Broadcast Site Viewing

Average73%
Men75%
Women69%
Age 2-1150%
Age 12-1771%
Age 18-2478%
Age 25-3479%
Age 35-4969%
Age 50-6468%
Age 65+59%
Source: The Nielsen Company - January 2009

While many of us may watch TV with friends or family members, the viewing of TV shows online proves to be a rather solitary activity. This may change as internet connectivity to our main TV screens becomes more ubiquitous, but right now, the majority of online viewers prefer to be alone.

solitaryviewing

Advertising Impact

TV commercial spots reused online appear to be more impact on recall and likeability than creative just designed for online as this case study with food and beverage ads shows.

ad-performance

This look into the similarities and differences of TV viewing on the web should be a reminder to brand managers that "context" is just as much king these days as content.

Tagged:  VIDEO
Email Share

separate addresses by comma

Related Solutions

Related News

Related Reports

Interested in learning more?
Contact Us

Get the Nielsen Newswire Newsletter

By clicking on Subscribe, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

X

You’re almost done! Please check your email to confirm your subscription.

In the meantime, explore our insights and reports on the latest consumer trends.

X

Something went wrong. If this is your first time subscribing, return to our signup form and try again, or contact us.

Once you’ve subscribed successfully, you will receive a confirmation email.

Company Info

  • About Nielsen
  • Investor Relations
  • Nielsen Panels
  • Responsibility & Sustainability
  • Press Room
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

Insights

  • Newswire
  • Reports
  • News Center
  • Top 10 & Trends
  • How We Measure
  • Webinars & Events
  • Newsletter Sign-up

Solutions

  • Total Audience
  • Marketing Cloud
  • Connect
  • Audio
  • Digital Brand Effect
  • Scarborough Local Insights
  • Shopper
  • See All

Privacy Statement  |  Terms of Use  |  Site Map
Copyright © 2019 The Nielsen Company (US), LLC. All Rights Reserved.