Commentary
Nearly Half Of Internet Users No Longer Use Linear TV
- by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, July 17, 2023
Even as the U.S. approaches the tipping point in which half of households no longer subscribe to linear TV services, new research released this morning finds that nearly half of internet users worldwide already have abandoned it altogether.
The findings, which are self-reported, are based on interviews with 54,000 internet …
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Joe Mandese is the Editor in Chief of MediaPost. You can reach Joe at joe@mediapost.com.
Linear TV has become the daily newspaper. Still alive but no longer central to our lives.
Here we go again, Joe. First question is why isn't the 65+ population segment---"linear TV's heaviest viewers by far---included. If I did a survey like this and excluded the18-34s would that be fair?
Second question. The implication is that as "everybody" uses the internet that "linear TV" is missing half of the consumer population---but is it? What percent of the total population "uses" the internet---70%,80%,90%? And is that "ever used" or some other definition---"sometimes use", "frequently use",etc.
Finally, as in all of these studies, what about linearTV content seen via antennas or apps, was that included?In olden times many homes located between large markets or in the hinterlands used tall antenna towers with no problem and current estimtes are that about 15% or more still get "linearTV" ( broadcast TV ) reception in this manner.
As an educated gues Iwould say that in the U.S. only about a fifth of the consumer population ades 18+ is esxclusive to streaming over the course of a reasonable period---like a month. It's not even close to 50%----not yet, at any rate.
Very sage comments Ed.
I always taught my students that when the sample from a survey is not representative, there are no data.
The absence of a truly "random" sample makes all of these data garbage. At minimum, that fact should have been emphasized in your coverage, Joe. Thank you.
I agree Ed you hit the nail on the head.