By James Hibberd
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Here's a big part of why
broadcast ratings are down: The number of television channels
that the average U.S. home receives has hit a record high of
119.
That's according to a new Nielsen study that showed the
five broadcast networks are continuing to face greater numbers
of cable channels.
At the same time, viewers routinely are sampling an
increasing number of those 119 channels. In 2007, the average
household went up to 16 channels for at least 10 minutes per
week.
Other facts from the study:
* Despite all the talk of reality booming, dramas still
dominate the English-language broadcast networks' program
lineups, comprising 40% of the primetime programs, an increase
of seven programs from last year. Variety programs comprise
23%.
* The average U.S. TV home has 2.5 people and 2.8 TV sets.
* 61% of homes have wired cable hookups, down from a high
of 68% in 2000, and 27% have satellite or specialized antenna
systems to receive signals, up from 19% in 2005.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
