The internet is projected to surpass TV in 2019 as people’s favourite source of media

New social media platforms, newer technology and the availability of shows on mobile are factors cited by a digital media firm’s research

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Published: 11:30am, 20 Jun 2018Updated: 11:23am, 20 Jun 2018

By Prachi Bhardwaj and Jenny Cheng

Not too long ago, television was the clear favourite source of media for consumers, but the end of that decades-long stretch is imminent, according to data from digital media agency Zenith.

The gap has long been narrowing between the number of minutes consumers spend watching TV every day and the amount of time they spend on mobile and desktop internet consumption. By 2020, Zenith’s forecast shows that daily internet consumption will surpass daily television consumption for the first time.

The invention of various social media platforms, the availability of shows on mobile, faster internet, more advanced smartphones, and more digestible content tailored to those smartphones have all played a big role in that reversal. These advancements have also marginally increased the total amount of minutes each consumer spends watching TV and on the internet: Nine years ago, internet and TV minutes totalled around four hours — by 2020 it’ll be almost six hours.