Average U.S. home receives 119 channels: report
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
