According to Parks Associates, as U.S. broadband households spend less time per week watching video on a TV set, they are watching more user-generated content online, which increasingly includes live broadcast video. The research house says 47% of U.S. broadband households watch user-generated content more than once per month.
"Total average video consumption on a television has dropped 13%, from more than 20 hours per week in 2012 to less than 17 hours per week in 2017," said Billy Nayden, Parks research analyst. "In contrast, user-generated live content is gaining popularity, with platforms such as Instagram Live providing new ways for content creators to engage with their viewers in real time. As more alternatives to traditional TV emerge, all players will explore new and unique ways to package and present digital streaming as part of their services."
By the end of 2017, 12% of U.S. broadband households were regularly watching either a live TV show or live events via a livestreaming site or app such as Twitter, Facebook, or Twitch. ABC launched a 24/7 livestreaming network in April 2018to capitalize on the trend.
"For content whose value is its live broadcast, such as sports and breaking news, there are online alternatives emerging," Nayden said. "Much of news consumption has moved to social media, while sports TV has shifted to digital in recent years, with many OTT options going direct to consumers, including MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, and ESPN+."
Other findings indicate:
- Live-TV viewers ages 18-34 watch 30% of their live content on a TV from online video services.
- 78% of viewers between the ages of 18-49 report getting news from social media.
- 35% of digital antenna owners connect their antenna to a streaming media player.
- 37% of U.S. adults reported getting their news from local news, compared to 46% in 2016.
- 23% of broadband households reported posting user-generated content online in the past 30 days.