Global TV appetite undiminished

PARIS: Television viewers around the world watched an average of three hours and 17 minutes of broadcast content per day in 2012, a new record on this measure, according to a report.

The latest edition of One Television Year in the World, from Eurodata TV Worldwide, part of the Médiamétrie media research company, reviewed consumption of television and audience successes in more than 80 countries. It found this figure was one minute more than in 2011.

The overall increase was driven primarily by European viewers, who added a total of seven minutes to their daily viewing times, reaching 3 hours 55 minutes.

The nature of that viewing is changing as the trend to dual-screening spreads worldwide. The report stated that 81% of UK tablet owners used this screen while watching TV, a third of Brazilians and Chinese people watched while surfing on a social network, and, in France, one internet user in four commented on a programme they were watching.

And the second screen could help create content for the first screen, as web applications allow the mix of viewers' favourite formats to create a unique show. An an example of this is the Facebook app Your Show, which turns the user's news feed into a personalised daily show.

The report also pointed to other new directions which extend the TV experience beyond the immediate broadcast. Euronews, for example, broadcasts a six-second mini film on its Twitter feed every day (#EuronewsVineOfTheDay).