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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/13/business/media/television-advertising.html

The median age of The Good Doctor and The Big Bang Theory viewers is in their late 50s, while Roseanne, This Is Us and Will & Grace have a median viewership in the early 50s. "The hottest shows on TV networks — which command the highest ad prices — are attracting older viewers, which is a challenge for brands that want to reach millennials and teens," says The New York Times. "For instance, this season’s top-rated show, the revival of Roseanne, has a median viewer age of 52.9 years. The network show with the lowest median age is Riverdale on the CW, at 37.2."

Obviously, this doesn't bode well for them. Traditional TV, so-called "free", needs to change. The 50 and over crowd are being priced out of the market by cable TV, and the cash cow that the networks and local stations have now, will come crashing down.

I am 51 years old. I have said this before, but in my opinion for the most part, present network television is 90 percent garbage. I currently watch three network sitcoms (Young Sheldon, Mom and Roseanne) and really, that's about it. Not to mention the looooong and obnoxious commercials.

Living overseas, I watch TV online. There is a website I use to watch shows without commercials. Or I watch YouTube which has lots and lots and lots of old programming, documentaries, films, just almost everything. If and when I do move back to the USA, I probably won't even own a television, or if I have one, will not pay for cable, satellite or whatever. Just hook the TV to a computer and go from there.

You also have to consider that there are many, many more choices now in programming than even twenty or even ten years ago. I would think most younger people are not watching TV, and choosing instead to use the Internet and other platforms. One can go to almost any business that serves customers (for instance, a Starbucks, McDonalds, or even the local strip club) where there is WIFI and one can break out their portable device and watch TV. Ome can watch a show anytime and not restrained to a certain time the networks decide to show a program. It is a whole new World.

I read last week that another 3/4 million households have cut the cord during the first quarter of this year :eek: , and their is no end in sight for when this trend will end. Some networks plan to curtail advertising, but nothing is certain at this time. May is a "sweeps" month, where the networks do what they can to attract audiences, so they can determine what they can charge their advertisers. These sweeps used to be a time where one could watch some choice programming (a lot of mini-series used to air at this time), but this trend jumped the shark many moons ago. Today it's simply a time where reruns cease to be shown.

Do young people even watch TV the old fashioned way anymore?By young I mean under age 25 or so.

Don't feel sorry for them one bit.It's been 3 years since I was in the demographic so they don't care about me then I don't care about them.

I wonder if the total, average desired demographics are on a continuous, downward trend.

The only CURRENT shows I watch are "Days of our Lives", "Wheel of Fortune", "Jeopardy!", "Roseanne", "Judge Judy", & "RuPaul's Drag Race"...that's it.

Other than that, I watch MeTV, "Hee Haw" Sunday nights on RFD, and whatever sitcoms are on Logo.

I also watch a lot of DVDs from my collection.

Do young people even watch TV the old fashioned way anymore?By young I mean under age 25 or so.

A lot of young adult viewers are "Cord Nevers" which means they don't subscribe to Cable or Satellite TV, and have no intentions of doing so in the forseeable future. Many of them don't own a TV set, if they watch something it's either on their computer, tablet or smartphone.

A lot of young adult viewers are "Cord Nevers" which means they don't subscribe to Cable or Satellite TV, and have no intentions of doing so in the forseeable future. Many of them don't own a TV set, if they watch something it's either on their computer, tablet or smartphone.I have never gotten the appeal of watching TV shows on a tiny phone or tablet. :confused:

I have never gotten the appeal of watching TV shows on a tiny phone or tablet. :confused:

I've seen kids watch a show on their smartphone IN CHURCH!!! :devil:

The older viewers (I am in that group), we grew up either in the 60's, 70's or 80's, when TV was at its best - especially in the 1970's.
We remember the good ole days of TV, and that would be a major reason why we are reluctant to completely get rid of traditional TV watching.

If I first discovered TV in the last 2 decades or so, I would probably not have a TV today.

I have never gotten the appeal of watching TV shows on a tiny phone or tablet. :confused:
:yeahthat

A lot of young adult viewers are "Cord Nevers" which means they don't subscribe to Cable or Satellite TV, and have no intentions of doing so in the forseeable future. Many of them don't own a TV set, if they watch something it's either on their computer, tablet or smartphone.
I agree with a lot of what Dianne3 mentioned. I feel the same way as she does. If I first discovered TV over the past 2 decades or so I probably would not want a TV either.

The older viewers (I am in that group), we grew up either in the 60's, 70's or 80's, when TV was at its best - especially in the 1970's.
We remember the good ole days of TV, and that would be a major reason why we are reluctant to completely get rid of traditional TV watching.

If I first discovered TV in the last 2 decades or so, I would probably not have a TV today.
I agree and well said.

TV these days is for old people, like rock music. Not many people under 25 partaking in either.

I agree with a lot of what Dianne3 mentioned. I feel the same way as she does. If I first discovered TV over the past 2 decades or so I probably would not want a TV either.
That's because there is nothing on it but trash.

Ten years ago the youngest median age for a show was Gossip Girl at 23. Now it's 37. That's very high.

That's because there is nothing on it but trash.
There's good stuff out there. You just gotta look for it. Not everything from the 60s-80s was that good either.

There's good stuff out there. You just gotta look for it. Not everything from the 60s-80s was that good either.
Maybe not but there was a lot more variety. I can name countless sitcoms and dramas from the 50's-80's that I loved. Can't think of hardly any anymore. I practically don't watch any current TV, something I never thought I'd do even 5 years ago. Even the shows I was watching, I didn't care if I missed.

In the old days, the average TV set carried only 13 channels. Every half hour, you could find something you liked on at least 3 of them. Once cable started becoming popular in the mid-1980s, then you could choose from between 50-100 different new channels. On those new channels, there might be something good on about 20 of them. Today you have as many as 1000 channels on your TV set and you're lucky if you can find a good show on 5 of them! That's not what I call progress!

I have never gotten the appeal of watching TV shows on a tiny phone or tablet. :confused:
Saves electricity. You can take it with you.

In the old days, the average TV set carried only 13 channels. Every half hour, you could find something you liked on at least 3 of them. Once cable started becoming popular in the mid-1980s, then you could choose from between 50-100 different new channels. On those new channels, there might be something good on about 20 of them. Today you have as many as 1000 channels on your TV set and you're lucky if you can find a good show on 5 of them! That's not what I call progress!
The only thing I watch is sports right now. Back then every night was must see TV. One great show on after another.