Almost Half of Video Gamers Cutting TV Use --Study

*Akasha* · August 29, 2004, 10:26 PM

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Nearly half of video game players watched less television last year or plan to cut their viewing time this year, according to a report issued on Thursday that lends credence to industry fears that young men are switching off the tube.

The Ziff Davis Digital Gaming in America survey found that 26 percent of gamers had cut their TV watching over the last year, and a further 20 percent expect to do so this year.

Television ratings provider Nielsen Media ignited a storm of controversy among network executives last fall when it reported a 7.7 percent decline in prime-time viewing by men aged 18 to 34.

Nielsen cited growing competition from video games and DVDs. Studies have shown that the average game player is 29 years old.

The Ziff study, a random poll of 1,000 people nationwide, was conducted in May and June by the Strategy Group. It is published annually.

The research also found that game players are not just sitting in their living rooms. Half said they play games on their cell phones, for an average of 4.4 hours a week. They also spent an average of $19 in the last 60 days on phone games, the study found.

Some networks had suggested that Nielsen's sampling was flawed, and Nielsen said about half the decline could be explained by changes in the composition of its ratings sample and in the way it measured data .

Earlier this month, Nielsen said viewership in the first eight weeks of the summer season by men aged 18 to 34 was down only 3 percent for the four major networks.

Source : Yahoo

boscolio · August 29, 2004, 11:21 PM

i found that i've been watching less TV since i got my new computer and more games for my xbox. i don't feel like i'm missing anything. with video games at least i'm participating in something.

*Akasha* · August 29, 2004, 11:24 PM

I've noticed the same, and infact I am half way through an article on the inner fight for me NOT to get addicted to a couple of programs because I have finally wiened myself of the idiot box... right onto another idiot box LOL :lol:

farslayer77 · August 30, 2004, 05:46 AM

If 99% of the TV programmes were not craptastical I would miss my cable. I don't :badgrin: My kids play outside / read and watch stuff I and my fiancee pick out for them on the VCR. I don't use the electronic "babysitter" to avoid being a parent.

On paper the online market has to look good to media folks. My figures are somewhat dated and I am to lazy to look up current ones. To just purchase enough fibre optic cable/hardware to service a town can set you back 30 million. If you can find one that doesn't have cable yet that is :lol: . The market is and has been saturated for a long time.

So the potential for investing 20 million or less and having recurring revenue of fifteen dollars US from 500,000 + monthly customers . For years looks like a good deal to them :lol: Quite frankly they would be better off putting that 20 million in berkshire -hathaway stock and making
15% on it imho.
On the other hand from a gamers perspective the more choices we have for our genre the better :idea: Quite bluntly there are only so many talented designers to go around. The talent pool is limited and visionaries in any endeavor are rare. Ralph Koster is not a visionary although he has pulled off that charade very lucratively so /respect.He is simply a digital deity experimenting with social systems . According to his theories on human behavior. With other peoples money . Hollywood producers could learn a trick or three from Ralph on how to BS people into devloping your fantasy world.

August 29, 2004, 11:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
boscolio Member Character Info boscolio 60 Gnome Warlock Azgalor US PvP Guild: Dark Echo Talent Spec: 43/7/11	Almost Half of Video Gamers Cutting TV Use --Study i found that i've been watching less TV since i got my new computer and more games for my xbox. i don't feel like i'm missing anything. with video games at least i'm participating in something.

August 30, 2004, 05:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
farslayer77 Member	TV /bleh If 99% of the TV programmes were not craptastical I would miss my cable. I don't :badgrin: My kids play outside / read and watch stuff I and my fiancee pick out for them on the VCR. I don't use the electronic "babysitter" to avoid being a parent. On paper the online market has to look good to media folks. My figures are somewhat dated and I am to lazy to look up current ones. To just purchase enough fibre optic cable/hardware to service a town can set you back 30 million. If you can find one that doesn't have cable yet that is :lol: . The market is and has been saturated for a long time. So the potential for investing 20 million or less and having recurring revenue of fifteen dollars US from 500,000 + monthly customers . For years looks like a good deal to them :lol: Quite frankly they would be better off putting that 20 million in berkshire -hathaway stock and making 15% on it imho. On the other hand from a gamers perspective the more choices we have for our genre the better :idea: Quite bluntly there are only so many talented designers to go around. The talent pool is limited and visionaries in any endeavor are rare. Ralph Koster is not a visionary although he has pulled off that charade very lucratively so /respect.He is simply a digital deity experimenting with social systems . According to his theories on human behavior. With other peoples money . Hollywood producers could learn a trick or three from Ralph on how to BS people into devloping your fantasy world.

August 29, 2004, 10:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Akasha	Almost Half of Video Gamers Cutting TV Use --Study LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Nearly half of video game players watched less television last year or plan to cut their viewing time this year, according to a report issued on Thursday that lends credence to industry fears that young men are switching off the tube. The Ziff Davis Digital Gaming in America survey found that 26 percent of gamers had cut their TV watching over the last year, and a further 20 percent expect to do so this year. Television ratings provider Nielsen Media ignited a storm of controversy among network executives last fall when it reported a 7.7 percent decline in prime-time viewing by men aged 18 to 34. Nielsen cited growing competition from video games and DVDs. Studies have shown that the average game player is 29 years old. The Ziff study, a random poll of 1,000 people nationwide, was conducted in May and June by the Strategy Group. It is published annually. The research also found that game players are not just sitting in their living rooms. Half said they play games on their cell phones, for an average of 4.4 hours a week. They also spent an average of $19 in the last 60 days on phone games, the study found. Some networks had suggested that Nielsen's sampling was flawed, and Nielsen said about half the decline could be explained by changes in the composition of its ratings sample and in the way it measured data . Earlier this month, Nielsen said viewership in the first eight weeks of the summer season by men aged 18 to 34 was down only 3 percent for the four major networks. Source : Yahoo

August 29, 2004, 11:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Akasha	Almost Half of Video Gamers Cutting TV Use --Study I've noticed the same, and infact I am half way through an article on the inner fight for me NOT to get addicted to a couple of programs because I have finally wiened myself of the idiot box... right onto another idiot box LOL :lol: