Not Many Watch Traditional TV

Television Is Overrated

Wikipedia:
As of 2013, there were an estimated 115.6 million television households in the United States.
This out of 133,957,180 households numbering 2.6 persons each as of 2014

You'd think with that many households individual programs on television would have many more viewers then they actually do. Take for example in March 2016 the highest cable TV news show was the 'O'Reilly Factor'. It came in with an average of only 3.9 million viewers nightly. That's only a little over 1% of U.S. population of 318.9 million (as of 2014)

Of the top ten prime time shows airing the week of March 28, 2016 'The Big bang Theory' had 14.238 million viewers. About 4.5% of the U.S. population.

This country's largest TV viewing audience ever was the 2015 Super Bowl. It had 114.4 million viewers. Still under 36%.

Wikipedia lists the most watched television broadcasts in history. Most were before 2005 and even they averaged less then 50 million (16%) viewers per program. A few specials did better. They had 33% at the most.

A few days ago the 'American Idol' finale pulled in around 13.4 million viwers (about 6%).

According to 'Nielsen' "With the convenience and personalized benefits offered by on-demand program viewing, it’s no surprise that VOD is fast becoming a part of daily viewing habits for many around the world, regardless of age." Over the air TV is hamstrung. If a program was on at eight, unless it was recorded viewers missed it. VOD is forever. Hence why many networks are offering VOD on their websites.

As more and more people focus their activities online traditional TV broadcasting is headed the way of the dodo bird, much like the newspapers.

People are getting more entertainment and information online without having to wait for it. Nor spoon fed by TV executives who determine what will broadcast.

Currently we see TV trying to play catch up by limited airings of videos and reports coming in from the internet. Both which all too often are edited down and/or censored if aired at all.

Unless main stream media can find a way to produce enough income it will lead to further reductions in quality programs, news reporting and their staffs resulting in even less viewers. This will create more competition on the internet allowing more low budget directors, documentary producers, entertainers and news reporters to get in on the act.

In the future major media will hold less sway over public opinion, what's being reported, how much cable companies are forced to pay and who gets to succeed. Up to now newspapers and TV had a monopoly on what we were exposed to. Now everyone gets to participate.

THAT MAY NOT BE A BAD THING