Average daily
television viewing of people in various age groups, metropolitan markets,
total television, 1991, 1995, 1997–2004
Next update to be advised
Television is the primary source of news,
information and entertainment for most Australians and consequently its
daily usage is high – second only to radio. In 2004, the average
Australian in a metropolitan market watched about 3 hours and 7 minutes
of television each day of the week.
Adults over the age of 55 are the heaviest users,
averaging 4 hours and 17 minutes of viewing per day in metropolitan markets,
while young adults, teens and children are the lightest users, averaging
under 2.5 hours per day. In 2004, television viewing fell among most
age groups, increased slightly for 18–24 and stayed the same for
55+. Generally, people under 40 are watching less TV now than they were
in 1991, and people over 40 are watching around the same as they were
in 1991.
Children
5–12
Teens
13–17
People
18–24
People
25–39
People
40–54
People
55+
All people
1991
2 hr
39 min
2 hr
44 min
2 hr
46 min
3 hr
11 min
3 hr
2 min
4 hr
21 min
3 hr 13 min
1994
2 hr
39 min
2 hr
43 min
2 hr
33 min
3 hr
07 min
3 hr
10 min
4 hr
22 min
3 hr 12 min
1995
2 hr
34 min
2 hr
29 min
2 hr
20 min
3 hr
4 min
3 hr
15 min
4 hr
19 min
3 hr 10 min
1997
2 hr
31 min
2 hr
40 min
2 hr
23 min
3 hr
4 min
3 hr
20 min
4 hr
24 min
3 hr 13 min
1998
2 hr
30 min
2 hr
40 min
2 hr
27 min
3 hr
11 min
3 hr
17 min
4 hr
23 min
3 hr 14 min
1999
2 hr
28 min
2 hr
34 min
2 hr
22 min
3 hr
12 min
3 hr
13 min
4 hr
15 min
3 hr 11 min
2000
2 hr
26 min
2 hr
39 min
2 hr
15 min
3 hr
15 min
3 hr
18 min
4 hr
18 min
3 hr 13 min
2001
2 hr
38 min
2 hr
42 min
2 hr
32 min
3 hr
15 min
3 hr
28 min
4 hr
16 min
3 hr 18 min
2002
2 hr
38 min
2 hr
26 min
2 hr
23 min
3 hr
13 min
3 hr
31 min
4 hr
14 min
3 hr 17 min
2003
2 hr
16 min
2 hr
20 min
2 hr
4 min
3 hr
7 min
3 hr
27 min
4 hr
17 min
3 hr 11 min
2004
2 hr
6 min
2 hr
15 min
2 h
6 min
3 hr
0 min
3 hr
22 min
4 hr
17 min
3 hr 7 min
Source: ACNielsen, Australian TV Trends
2001 (1991 to 2000) and OzTAM (from 2001).
Notes:
Based on averages of the five mainland capital cities; all households,
whether subscription TV or not.
Any comparison of data before and after January 2001 should take into
account that a different audience measurement system has applied since
that date.
