Tablet ownership boosting news audiences

Tablet ownership has boosted viewing of TV news, while audiences are increasingly receptive to advertising across multiple devices, according to a survey of news consumption by InSites Consulting for BBC World News and BBC.com/news. 

According to the survey, 43% of tablet users say the consume more TV than they did five years ago, with most using tablets alongside TV. The survey found that young professionals aged 25-34 were the biggest news enthusiasts and that 83% of tablet users said they used the devices while watching TV

TV still dominates overall usage, accounting for 42% of news consumption, compared with 29% for laptops, 18% for smartphones and 10% for tablets.

The survey also found that news audiences now expect to see advertising almost as much on mobile device as they do on TV and online.

In breaking news situations, 42% of users turn to television as their primary and first device, with 66% then turning to the internet to investigate stories further. Users rated national and international news of most importance, closely followed by local news. Financial and business news were more highly valued than news about sports and arts/entertainment news.

InSites Consulting surveyed more than 3,600 owners of digital devices in Australia, Singapore, India, the UAE, South Africa, Poland, Germany, France and the US.