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CRTC Media Consumption Article

Counterpoints to Media in Canada Article

Changing Channels: TV, Radio Consumption Declines, Online Video Up
Media in Canada | July 30, 2010 - article

 

Statement: "The national average weekly consumption however remains steady at 26.5 hours per week, down 0.4% from the previous year."

 

Counterpoints:

 

1) Self-reported surveys result in people reporting what they think they do, rather than what they actually do.  This is because remembering how much time you spend with the various media is difficult.  In some cases this leads to people over reporting how much time they spend with some media and under reporting the time they spend with others.

 

2) The broadcast industry is now using measurement technology that is intended to address the challenges of self-report methodology.  Portable People Meters (PPMs) are the current system in place for measuring national television audiences.  They explode some of the myths about TV as they measure real people, watching real television, in real time.  It is not about recall. 

 

According to 2009-2010 Year-to-Date Statistics from PPM, people aged 2+ watch television an average of 27.9 hours weekly per capita. 


Statement:
"But among the 18-to-34 age group, 20.6 hours per week were spent watching TV, down 2.4%."

 

Counterpoint:

 

1) PPM figures show that adults 18-34 watched an average of 23.6 hours of television each week, three full hours higher than reported in CRTC's Communications Monitoring Report
 

Statement: "Teens were also the most likely age group to reduce their television consumption in 2009 - they spent an average 16.6 hours per week watching TV, down 4.6% from the previous year."

 

Counterpoints:

 

1) PPM provides better accuracy measurement for younger demographics because there is greater compliance, no diary involved, and is a passive measurement (you just have to wear it).

 

2) The PPM system found all the younger viewers who were reported missing a few years ago.  They did not simply materialize, they are viewers which the old system could not capture.  The audience aged 12-17 was 61.3% higher than the same period last year.

 

3) Teens (12-17) watched an average of 22.1 hours of television each week, much higher than the 16.6 hours reported in the CRTC report.

 

 

 


Originally Posted: 8/3/2010 10:43:14 AM
Last Updated: 8/3/2010 10:43:14 AM