• by Wayne Friedman , July 26, 2023

With school ending and more free time for kids in the summer, total TV screen time for viewers ages 2-17 grew in June about 20% versus May -- largely due to non-traditional TV, according to Nielsen.

For kids 2-11, total TV screen time rose 16.3% with for ages 12-17. This was 24.1% higher compared to the results for the previous month.  

Non-traditional TV options -- streaming and video game usage -- amounted to 90% of their increased usage. Streaming accounted for 62% of the increase, and 30% for the "other" category where video gaming was a major contributing element.

In comparison to all TV age groups, June's total TV usage inched up only 2.2% from May, according to Nielsen.

Traditional linear TV usage for kids continues to crumble. Kids viewing declined a massive 53% in two years from 2019 to 2021, according to a MoffettNathanson report a year ago.

The strongest-performing kids TV network in June of this year --- Nickelodeon, averaging 190,000 total day average viewing, according to Nielsen, good for 26th place among all cable TV networks.

Disney Channel and Disney Junior were next -- 115,000 (45th place) and 113,000 (46th place) respectively. Cartoon Network was at 93,0oo (58th place).

In prime time, Disney Junior, 126,000 and Disney Channel, 125,000 -- landing at 56th and 57th place.

Nick Jr. was at 101,000; Nicktoons, 65,000; and TeenNick 34,000 -- landing at 67th, 79th and 92nd place respectively.