Consumers are increasingly multitasking while watching TV, integrating “second screens” into their viewing experience, argues the global management consultancy Accenture, based on results of a new survey.
Multitasking in front of the TV used to be about reading. Now viewers are multitasking with their laptops, phones, and tablets, as well books and newspapers while watching television. Multitasking has grown substantially in the past year across all devices, Accenture finds.
Research Now surveyed 3,501 adults, on behalf of Accenture. The survey was fielded in February and March to a Research Now panel. Survey results were not weighted. The sample is designed to be representative of the national population in each country, except Brazil where the sample is more representative of the urban populations. This is the third annual iteration of this survey. Based on a Researchscape assessment of the questionnaire and methodology, this survey is only slightly likely to be representative of consumers in general: the results should be considered qualitative or directional in nature.
Unfortunately, here Accenture lost me. Fundamentally, I don’t believe that reading a book or newspaper in front of the TV more than doubled in the past year.
- In 2012, the sample also included other countries omitted from 2013: Argentina and Germany, so with the overall total, we’re comparing apples to naranjas
- In 2012, the fieldwork was by “an external agency” but in 2013 it was by Research Now, meaning the panel provider may have changed, making it harder to compare results year over year
- Tablet ownership has increased, but it’s off the board at 44% in 2013, ahead of smart phone ownership in these countries
- Results weren’t weighted for either year, making each survey more susceptible to shifts in the demographics surveyed
- Both years’ results are panel surveys, so we shouldn’t assume they are capable of too much representativeness anyway
Has multitasking while watching TV increased? Most certainly, due to the rise of tablets. But I wouldn’t look to back that assertion up with this research.
| For activities unrelated to TV content | Searching content on the TV | For social media activities about TV program | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer/laptop | 43% | 37% | 29% |
| Mobile phone/smartphone | 38% | 21% | 23% |
| A book/newspaper | 28% | 17% | N/A |
| Tablet | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Game console | 13% | 7% | 7% |
| Accenture, n= 3501 |
For more information on this study, refer to Video Over Internet Consumer Survey.
Author Notes:
Jeffrey Henning
