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Study: Primetime TV losing share to PS3, 360

Nielsen research indicates Microsoft's and Sony's consoles cutting into television-watching hours; female gamers aged 25-plus are the largest PC gaming block.

Today, media-tracking firm The Nielsen Company released the latest update to its quarterly "State of the Video Gamer" report, with a primary focus on usage patterns for console and PC gamers. As one primary takeaway from the report, Nielsen found that PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 gamers are spending more primetime television hours gaming than watching TV.

Nielsen's report also found that Sony's stalwart PlayStation 2--which celebrated its 50 millionth unit milestone in North America during January--will soon be replaced as the most-used console. According to Nielsen, the PS2 will lose its top seat by the end of 2009, with either the Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii most likely to succeed it.

[UPDATE] Following the publication of Nielsen's report, the media-tracking firm discovered a minor error that it corrected today. Originally, a chart within the report indicated that the Xbox 360 outperformed the Nintendo Wii in terms of usage minutes during January, and dramatically understated the PS3's usage time. Nielsen's corrected data reveals that PS2 usage amounted to 23.7 percent of US gaming time, followed by the Wii's 20.7 percent, the Xbox 360 with 18.2 percent, the PS3 with 9 percent, the Xbox with 7.9 percent, and the GameCube with 3.3 percent.

Female gamers also received special attention in Nielsen's report. The media-research firm noted that girl gamers aged 25 and older comprise the largest PC game-playing block. Nielsen's survey found that the demographic amounted to 46.2 percent of all PC gamers, with females aged 25-plus accruing 54.6 percent of all metered gameplay minutes during December 2008.

Lastly, Nielsen offered data on the top PC games played during the last month of 2008. In both the male and female 25-54 demographic, Nielsen found that the most-played PC game was Microsoft's Solitaire card game, followed by FreeCell. According to Nielsen, more than 17 million gamers in the US played Microsoft's Solitaire in December.

Nielsen's full State of the Video Gamer report is available through the firm's Web site.

78 Comments

  • cyw1988

    Posted Apr 11, 2009 11:18 am GMT

    Well I honestly think that right now there are a few nice TV series going on like Chuck, Grey's Anatomy, Sarah Connor Chronicles etc. But really, with DVDs and Blu-rays being released on these shows who needs to actually tune into the show? I see the trend going in favour of gaming in the future.

  • AuronTsubaki85

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 5:25 pm GMT

    Since Reality TV took over almost all the networks, I stayed away from Primetime TV as best as I could. The only thing I have ever watched so far in this decade is Dexter & Brotherhood on Showtime, and the channel I only watch now is Turner Classic Movies cause there are no stupid commercials, some of the films they play are always shown uneditted & in Letterbox format. When they interview someone famous they aren't asking any stupid questions either. I stepped away from Cartoon Network when they announced it is removing it's all toon format & murdered Toonami last year. I also listen to whatever Classic Rock radio stations are available. Drawing is another use of not wasting my time on Primetime Reality TV. Reading, & play video games for about an hour or two. a good way to avoid the crap they call entertainment now & days. The execs of the networks continue to show these stupid reality shows cause it's all about the ratings & the almighty dollar. Remakes of older movies is starting to tick me off as well, Hollywood needs to stop raping us of the older gems & rehashing them in piles of crap. Ever since, MTV announced they were stealing Rocky Horror Picture Show from Fox & remaking it into their hip hopera crap pile, I've been 80% anti-remake, but there are some that are alright as long as they have the right actors & filmmakers to pull it off, but other than that I'm an old school viewer.

  • BtmnHatesRbn

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 3:50 pm GMT

    I see no proof of this study. Seriously. People forget that, like water in our bodies, about 70% of the American TV audience gets over-the-air, and that, according to real numbers, by visiting people, game systems are played once in a blue moon. Oh, wait, I keep forgetting about the GameSpot reader being nothing more than a clone of Todd from Code Monkeys. I keep forgetting that. Losers.

  • enoslives7

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 12:00 pm GMT

    Prime-time TV is for the uneducated masses. People with brains prefer to game.

  • tworkma

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 10:14 am GMT

    I see this only getting worse for TV, movies too. I need to interact. Plus, the Monkeys on the TV and Movies aren't dancing as I tell them to. They are too busy trying to tell me about politics and what I should wear, do, etc. Dance Monkey, Dance!

  • aduttyfoot

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 10:08 am GMT

    "Who the hell wants to watch "Who Wants To Marry A Goat?" when you can play Rock Band and get everyone involved in the mix."

    LOL, thanks for the good laugh. You had me cracking up in the office, thankfully i am the only one here. yeah the only thing i watch on tv is discovery, animal planet, history channel, cartoon network and scifi. oh let me not forget football(soccer). I gave my tv to my grandmother when hers broke and i haven't replaced it as yet.I am trying to justify a reason to replace it and the only thing i can come up with is to use it as a second monitor, and to run my 360 on it. right now i play my xbox on my 24inch dell monitor. nothing else on tv worth watching, just a bunch of silly shows, and repeats of the same movies over and over.

  • Kevin_Kaniff

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 10:05 am GMT

    I blame bullsh** reality tv.

  • CharlieFubar

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 9:20 am GMT

    why watch TV anymore? They bombard you with commercials every 5 minutes in a vain attempt to make up for its loss of viewers.

  • fester420

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 8:56 am GMT

    Well most of us don't even have television anymore, there is no point when you can watch them on hulu or download them. I do spend more time watching shows than playing games but it's all on the internet, i only use my tv to play my ps3.

  • Aljanei

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 8:55 am GMT

    TV is boring..

  • Erik729

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 8:36 am GMT

    But for the whole gaming surpassing TV, that is almost a no-brainer for me. On TV there seems to be a restriction of 3 types of shows that networks are allowed to broadcast: Reality, Detective, or Hospital based shows. Maybe 4 types if you include commercials. Think about it though...what other genre is there on TV? None.

  • Erik729

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 8:31 am GMT

    Solitaire? Really? That's like saying the world's largest collection of great artists are on Windows computers because millions use "Paint" to bulls**t and waste time.

  • TruthOpinionSpk

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 8:18 am GMT

    Same here. Games, books, internet. TV got uninteresting after I discovered hot-off-the-island anime. Besides, the only channels worth watching were the food network, history channel, and discovery.

  • flawless_blade

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 8:16 am GMT

    Okay, i thought this was a serious gaming thing. read "female gamers aged 25-plus are the largest PC gaming block" and was like, awesome. Then i read this: "In both the male and female 25-54 demographic, Nielsen found that the most-played PC game was Microsoft's Solitaire card game, followed by FreeCell. According to Nielsen, more than 17 million gamers in the US played Microsoft's Solitaire in December. " Aw, what? That is NOT gaming.

  • mattinavat

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 8:15 am GMT

    Careful how you get your stats...Microsoft's packaged solitaire game is played by people who don't play games, they play solitaire when they are bored and wasting time - they are not gamers. No one bought the game on purpose, it was just there on their PC and players are just blowing time. Which is not to say a gamer doesn't blow time with solitaire, but it is to say that bored females playing solitaire do not a-majority-of-PC-gamers make.

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 7:59 am GMT

    My friends and I fall into the magical 18-35 male demographic, and not a single one of us watches any television outside of catching '30 Rock' on Hulu now and then. It's just an inferior form of entertainment compared to the interactivity of video games, particularly multiplayer titles. Who the hell wants to watch "Who Wants To Marry A Goat?" when you can play Rock Band and get everyone involved in the mix.

    Interesting that "older" female gamers are now the biggest PC demographic. I'd like to see those numbers without Microsoft freebie games included, though.

  • creepy_mike

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 7:31 am GMT

    Yeah, I'm pretty much a strictly games, internet and books guy now. Radio, TV and 99% of all movies are dead to me, and have been for about half a decade.

    Now instead of catching up on the latest pop culture tripe that won't matter this same time next year, I can focus on a grand archive of art, music and literature spanning several centuries and the entire globe. Never would have thought being completely out of the loop would be so liberating.

  • svaubel

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 7:16 am GMT

    I watch maybe 3-4 hours of TV a week. There is really nothing on TV that is good anymore. It's either endless reruns or the next new reality crap that FOX puts out.

  • Alpen09

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 7:07 am GMT

    It's good to see gaming cutting more and more into the mainstream.

  • sgt-hawkins

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 6:38 am GMT

    i thought cops was the first reality show

  • Jedi_Dad

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 6:31 am GMT

    Gaming is much more enjoyable these days than watching rehashed sitcoms/movies put out by Hollywood. They have not offered much of anything creative or refreshing in years. PLUS, games don't have comericals (at least not yet... )

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 6:19 am GMT

    Even if you didn't play video games with Video on Demand, Digital Video Recorders, Live Streams and everything else, why would you sit there in real time watching TV anyway?

  • Thanos_Greece

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 5:22 am GMT

    the TV nowadays is worse than crap,thats what I learned from this research.By the way who is the redhair girl on razgriz_101 picture I have seen her a lot of times lately but I cant figure out

  • AlphaCommando

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 4:58 am GMT

    That's terrible news! When advertisers figure this out, our games are going to be bombarded with ads!

  • 09231991

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 4:42 am GMT

    Good, I'm glad this is happening. When you see how much trash there is out there in terms of television, this is expected. Watching TV these days has become more of a chore than enjoyment. I mean, as some have mentioned, MTV used to be all about Music and music videos. Now, it's pretty much all reality show crap. I mean, is this truly what can be considered acceptable as GOOD TV? I mean seriously, How many damn shows do we need with random people no ones even heard of, living in the same house together? I mean come one! Or all these dating shows about these "lonely" celebs who wanna find "love"? I mean seriously!
    There are a lot of shows out there that I enjoy, but a lot of them are older shows and cartoons (I loved Cartoon Networks old lineup of shows and animes, the memories) Anyway, it's hard for me to even like most of the dumb crap that comes out these days on TV. Videogames are just WAY more entertaining. I mean think about it, in TV and movies, your just watching and with music your just listening but with Videogames your watching, listening and controlling its outcome. This is why videogames have become a MUCH more profitable business than Movies and music, This is why videogames are played so much and this is why video will continue to be around!
    LONG LIVE VIDEOGAMES, WOOOHOOO!!!

  • nate1222

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 3:18 am GMT

    @firehawk998

    I think MTV's "The Real World" back in 1992 was the first 'reality TV' show. It was actually good. But by season 2, the people that MTV's casting directors would pick and the editing the producers would use was taking a 'marketing' and/or 'beef up conflicts' route. And soon, other networks followed suit. Mainly because it's CHEAPER to get some desperate, would-be-celebs to cut eachothers throats for $50,000 - $100,000 than it is to pay a single actual actor/actress $100,000 per episode. Not to mention: writers, directors, extras, etc... Get the picture? It's NOT because we (the viewers) like it. It's because it's CHEAP! The result is trash!

  • w0lfsban3

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 3:15 am GMT

    @ firehawk998: Dude the first reality show was The Adventures of Ozzie and was aired for the first time in 1950. The show can be traced back to 1930 when it was broadcast on the radio.

  • Henninger

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 3:11 am GMT

    @ firehawk998

    I think the 1st reality tv show wuz The Real World but im not sure i could b wrong.

  • somberfox

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 3:04 am GMT

    Maybe if they'd make quality shows like they used to long ago this wouldn't be happening.

  • Dante2710

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 2:53 am GMT

    dont blame the consoles, blame the crappy shows on tv nowadays

  • razgriz_101

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 2:46 am GMT

    no wonder if you have seen UK primetime or just UK television in general.Get much more entertainment playing a bit of Fallout 3 or Resident evil.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 2:42 am GMT

    That is because TV is boring these days. It is just a sea of repeats (In the UK anyway).

  • firehawk998

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 2:22 am GMT

    @fellowgamers : I am not from america. I would like to know which channel created the first reality TV show and what was it? Can anyone please answer my question any answer will be appreciated.

  • firehawk998

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 2:12 am GMT

    Well I am not surprised other than animations like Simpsons, Southpark,etc I dont watch a lot of TV. Reason for this because these days the channels are all saturated with Reality TV Shows, Dramas,etc for the mentally ill. I was once forced to watch Greys Anatomy and boy did I feel the story and dialouges feels like it is written by 7 year old. Plus (except for a few shows) in terms of entertainment, story etc videogames blows each every one of the tv show out of water.

  • fiskefyren

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 2:12 am GMT

    lol... i dont even own a tv... because i cant be bouthered with wasting my life on looking for something to see on the telly... if there is something i want to see... i get the dvd's or whatever and watch it on my pc's 24" widescreen (which is more than enough when you sit like 1½ meter away from the screen).
    and am saving money! by not having a tv and not having to pay for useless programs i dont watch anyway i save alot of cash each year! not to mention not having to big some huge ass tv (that also takes up alot of space!)!

  • nate1222

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 2:10 am GMT

    @starfox16
    Word. Video games are much more interactive. I love music! Radio? Not bad, but, too damn controlled! TV? Okay. But it's been pretty predictable for a long time now. And so-called 'Reality TV' (actually, clever editing TV) makes me wanna puke! Movies aren't bad. Just...well...predictable. Video games have their share of cliches, short-comings and dissappointments as well. But they're just simply more rewarding.

  • dragonballzmanx

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 1:54 am GMT

    What's this about the 360 overtaking the PS2's sales in 2009?? Yea right, don't think that will happen this year at all. Wii....maybe, 360....hell no! PS2 RULES!

  • starfox15

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 1:06 am GMT

    Radio, you were great in the beginning. TV, I loved you for a while. Movies, you know I like seeing you every once and a while. Console, will you marry me? Its the age of the video game and its just heating up.

  • LinKuei_warrior

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 12:47 am GMT

    Their loss and I dont feel bad for them.you take away all my favorite cartoons and all my favorite shows, and I will leave you 4 dead literally...I play more games than watch tv now a days cos fo the garbage on tv now a days.pathetic.

  • coaltango

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 12:26 am GMT

    most secretaries in companies spend their time wasting by playing solitaire & not working.i have a receptionist & she plays that game as well.

  • nate1222

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 12:19 am GMT

    No shock there. Alot of the 'Reality TV' (actually, clever editing TV) crap that floods the airwaves keeps me (male, 33) GAMING way more than watchin' the tube. If it weren't for History Channel, all my TV would be is a monitor for my game consoles.

  • geomyr

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 12:09 am GMT

    i just cant stop playing video games that's it. hehehee

  • rhinovirus50

    Posted Apr 8, 2009 12:00 am GMT

    It not really that surprising I think the only show I watch is Chuck and I usually catch it on hulu instead of when it on tv.

  • black_ice23

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 11:41 pm GMT

    well im not surprised when theres nothing good on besides dumb reality shows, war, recession and more reality shows such as tila tequila you cant blame them for turning to video games, between playing basketball and watching it on tv and the simpsons and out with friends and school and work, im playing video games either by myself or with friends so yea tv doesnt find much time unless theres something must see on

  • joelgargan

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 11:21 pm GMT

    @Gao_Wuji

    Agreed!

    Solitaire is like the most basic game ever. If i play Monopoly, am I a gamer?? I mean cmon.

  • Gao_Wuji

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 11:06 pm GMT

    People playing solitaire and free cell while at the office are not gamers. And this is not the old "what makes you a true gamer" debate, but to be a real gamer you have to atleast invest in buying a few games. Almost everyone has a computer either at home or at the office now, and games that come free on every single one that you can play when bored at work don't count.

  • Sendmn23

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 11:03 pm GMT

    Well this much is true..... I mean c'mon most of the time I can just buy a season of any t.v. show i like without having to be held prisoner by dumb 30 second adds..... I'd rather be on "live" getting down on what ever game i want.... Games are just cooler..... I mean most of the time half way through a new dvd I want to go play a game. I do have to admit that I have jumped on the "24" band wagon. I never knew what the big deal was.... well this season i got hooked.... so yeah every monday I'm sitting there like a little school girl bitting my nails..... good stuff..... then I got back and play me some good ole' video games.

  • Darkon_X

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 10:46 pm GMT

    Yeah i get about 300 channels and I watch technically... none. All because sweet videogames. Oh yeah!

  • Zerosumgame

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 10:46 pm GMT

    Solitaire??? hahhahah. let it be.

  • king_chapeton15

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 10:21 pm GMT

    well t.v today f****** sucks only watch suspense show 24 but i bought all season1-6 on dvd so i rarely watch t.v only for new southpark shows on wensdays but thats about it

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