Internet supports television viewing among Finnish youth
Viewing on increase among under 15-year-olds
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Television viewing among the under 15-year-olds is experiencing a revival. The viewing figures from last year indicate a four per cent increase in this age group compared to 2005.
For a long time researchers have claimed that younger people increasingly entertain themselves surfing the Internet rather than watching TV.
In truth, the time that children and young adults spent watching television has decreased fairly steadily throughout the 2000s, despite the fact that children's rooms in increasing numbers have a television set and the fact that there are more TV programmes and channels to choose from.
Last year the 10 to 14-year-olds spent approximately 88 minutes per day watching television, which is nearly 20 per cent less than in 2000.
Still, according to production director Jouni Talonen of Finnpanel, a market research company specialising in panel research on television and radio audiences, the Finnish youth have not yet written off television.
"Today's young people are comfortable using multiple media sources simultaneously. They remain logged on to the Internet while watching television."
Finnpanel does not measure how much television is viewed through the Internet, but for the present the figure is marginal.
Talonen is of the opinion that last year's surprise upswing in children and young adults' viewing habits results from a more appealing supply of programmes.
The pay-TV channels also attracted younger viewers with last summer's free-of-charge campaigns.
According to planning chief Tina Åström from the commercial television channel Nelonen, the Internet does not necessarily rob television of viewers, but is rather becoming a supporting part of the viewing experience. "After the programmes the youth log on to various websites to discuss what they just saw."
According to Talonen, the mainstream channels have faced it out well in front of the digital revolution, with multiple new channels.
Among the most popular television programmes in 2006 - with over a million viewers - were the Independence Day Gala Reception at the Presidential Palace, the Torino Winter Olympics, the Eurovision Song Contest, the Ice Hockey World Championships, various ski jumping events, the Miss Finland contest, and the presidential election coverage.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 9.1.2007 - TODAY |
 Internet supports television viewing among Finnish youth |
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