• by Wayne Friedman , August 26, 2011

Though growing with consumers overall, TV networks looking for a new video distribution home on tablets like the iPad might be getting mostly young and male consumers.

Nielsen says in the second quarter of 2011, 46% of tablet owners are under the age of 34 years old -- with the biggest group, 25-34 users, comprising the biggest part 22%. Tablets are still mostly owned by men.

But these numbers are shrinking quickly. In the second quarter, 62% of tablet owners were under 34 years old, with the largest group, 25-34 users, having a 26% share.

Older consumers have a steadily increasing ownership. Share of tablets owned by people 55 years and older have grown to 19% from 10%. Conversely, 18-24 years old consumers have moved to 13% from 23%.

Looking at other new technology, smartphones are still dominant among those 25-34, with a 26% share. That number hasn't changed from the third-quarter 2010. Older consumers are next, 45 to 55 years old, at 20%. Smartphone owners are now evenly split between male and female.

Those eReader devices, Kindles and the like, continue to have a stronger base with older consumers -- who also tend to be female, 61%. This number has climbed from 46% in third-quarter 2010.

Easily the largest group for eReaders are consumers 55+ with a 30% share. This has grown from a 25% number in third-quarter 2010. Also growing are 45-54s, now at 21% from 18%. Younger consumers of eReaders --- on a share basis -- have dropped from last year.

In the U.S., as recently as last summer, Nielsen says ownership of all these devices tended to be male and on the younger side.