NEW YORK: American teen-agers watch TV, according to a report from Nielsen.
“The notion that teens are too busy texting and Twittering to be engaged with traditional media is exciting, but false,” it states.
Among findings, teen-agers are now watching 6 percent more TV than they were five years ago. They also spend less time online than adults do. Teens spend an average of 11 hours and 32 minutes per month online. The overall average is 29 hours and 15 minutes, Nielsen said.
“Teens watch less online video than most adults, but the ads are highly engaging to them,” Nielsen said. “Teens spend 35 percent less time watching online video than adults 25-34, but recall ads better when watching TV shows online than they do on television.”
Perhaps even more shocking, the report says teen-agers read newspapers. They also “listen to the radio and even like advertising more than most,” the report said. Teen-agers who recalled TV commercials were 44 percent more likely to say they liked it.
“American Idol” was their favorite show in 2008, while drama was their favorite genre, the report indicated. Google was the top Web site, same as it was for the older set.
Nielsen’s report is available at http://blog.nielsen.com.
