• April 19, 2005

Despite perceptions that TV has been declining due to greater usage of online, videogames and other new media, Americans are watching more TV than at any time since those media emerged, according to estimates issued Monday by ESPN. The analysis, which does not attribute any particular source, but which presumably is based on Nielsen data, estimates that the average U.S. TV household "watched" eight hours and two minutes of TV programming per day during 2004, the highest level ever, and an increase of 37 minutes per day and the highest level since 1992. Daily TV usage by the average person also rose, climbing to four hours and 26 minutes, an increase of 24 minutes from 1992. "Americans are watching more TV than ever before," said Glenn Enoch, vice president of audience research at ESPN. -- J.M.