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See the original image at variety.com

TV viewers' average age hits 50 years old

variety.com — That's the oldest ever since Sternberg started analyzing median age more than a decade ago -- and the first time the nets' median age was outside of the vaunted 18-49 demo.

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  • aguynamedben, on 07/01/2008, -16/+57median != average

    4th grade
    • adith, on 07/01/2008, -14/+11Average != mean. Although most of the time when we say "average" we mean "mean", it can also mean "median" or a variety of other things that measure central tendency.
      • digitalpencil, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1erm.. thanks
      • LucerinRed, on 07/01/2008, -1/+13WHAT??? The average IS the mean. The median has nothing to do with the average, though in any evenly sparse set of data, they should be close.

        Mean = "In mathematics and statistics, the arithmetic mean (or simply the mean) of a list of numbers is the sum of all the members of the list divided by the number of items in the list." Sounds like the average to me.

        Median = "In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the number separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to highest value and picking the middle one." Sounds different from the average to me.
      • ultrafez, on 07/01/2008, -0/+6Why is he being buried? There are many kinds of average, the three most common are: mean, median, mode. Although generally we understand the average to be the mean of the set of numbers.
        Look here for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Average
    • RealmDown, on 07/01/2008, -7/+2Correct. "area in the center of a divided highway" != average
    • franklymister, on 07/01/2008, -0/+16"According to a study released by Magna Global's Steve Sternberg, the five broadcast nets' average live median age was 50 last season."

      The word "average" in the headline is referring to the average of all the median ages for the various networks. I suppose they could have spelled that out for you, but it's a headline, not a title for a dissertation.

    • Spudster, on 07/01/2008, -1/+2Mean is what most think of as an average, not median. I guess you need to retake 4th grade...
    • Angostura, on 07/01/2008, -0/+2Well, depending on definitions median is *an* average, but the median is what most people think of when they think of the term. The final average is the mode.

      So. The median age has increased - no *****, people now live longer. A single 110 year old granny is probably to blame.
    • ogloom, on 07/01/2008, -0/+2Median is actually a better indication of the typical age of a TV viewer than the mean, as the median isn't influenced by freak results which skew the mean value.

      Finding the Mean, Median or Modal number are ALL ways of averaging...Jackass
  • Dralite, on 07/01/2008, -7/+2Darn interweb...
  • koolmoecraig, on 07/01/2008, -7/+48Study is skewed. They didn't account for DVR users which would have obviously lowered the average age. The study should say "The average schnook who sits through commercials is now 50yrs of age".
    • kh99, on 07/01/2008, -0/+23But it says later in the article that when DVRs are factored in, it only goes down one year.
    • Ph34rb0t, on 07/01/2008, -0/+8FTA:

      When live-plus-7 DVR viewing is factored in, the nets (except CW and Univision) drop by a year -- which still reps the oldest median age ever for the nets.
    • maskedm564, on 07/01/2008, -1/+4What's a commercial?
    • opticwind, on 07/01/2008, -3/+3Median is not average. That's "mean".
    • misguidedmonkey, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1This is the age range that grew up with television when it was new and fresh. I'm sure it'll be the same for computers and Internet in 30 years.
    • deadbaby, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1I'm not sure who paid for this study but if it was the advertisers they probably wanted DVR users excluded. If you don't watch their ads, you don't matter. You can't really prove people with or without a DVR skip/mute ads but chances are if you manage to watch TV without a DVR you're dumb enough to sit through commercials too.
  • jenn2d2, on 07/01/2008, -3/+28Somehow, this comes as no surprise, given the crap ton of Baby Boomer "You're not Old!" and "Eat more Viagra" ads lately.
    • KingGorilla, on 07/01/2008, -1/+2Remember the rapping old people

      I apologize for reminding you. That was a horrible horrible time for humanity
    • petebot, on 07/01/2008, -0/+3Hey. I survived Woodstock. I didn't think I'd have to worry about surviving my first Heart Attack. That's why I use Urnotoldatol.
    • theMatrix777, on 07/04/2008, -0/+0Would that be the ones voting for "American Idol"?????

      Is that the old people you're talking about?
  • joshua5, on 07/01/2008, -5/+17I don't have cable
    • digitalpencil, on 07/01/2008, -1/+10i don't have a tv, i don't see the point. why bother when you can just download your favourite shows off bittorrent?
      • mordero, on 07/01/2008, -0/+5Downloading shows would justify not having cable, but has nothing to do with owning a TV. I would rather download a show and then watch it on TV than watch it on some monitor.
      • Psi57, on 07/01/2008, -0/+3I don't have a TV either (cable is mandatory). These days you can get a bigger flat panel monitor than a TV for cheaper (Newegg FTW, as always). I have a 24" thats light as a feather. Swivel it around to point at my bed and I have a TV :D
      • dgendreau, on 07/01/2008, -0/+2TVs are still useful in the living room. I picked up an original XBOX for $30 used and soft modded it with XBMC. Its all my family uses anymore to watch TV/Movies and emulate console games.

        I would much rather spend $100/year on additional hard drive space on my PC than $60/month for digital cable.
    • octus, on 07/01/2008, -1/+4Hey, is this you?

      http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28694

      "CHAPEL HILL, NC–Area resident Jonathan Green does not own a television, a fact he repeatedly points out to friends, family, and coworkers–as well as to his mailman, neighborhood convenience-store clerks, and the man who cleans the hallways in his apartment building."
    • digitalpencil, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1hilarious and yes, you've cracked it.
  • ColorBlind, on 07/01/2008, -4/+8It's a generation that watches TV...not a constant age group.

    //a little sarcasm..kinda'
  • 11Christine, on 07/01/2008, -2/+22Yep, TV's getting useless nowadays.
  • Easty, on 07/01/2008, -4/+17Maaaaaaaaatloooooooooock!
  • terribly1, on 07/01/2008, -1/+34What kind of demographic is 18-49, anyway? How many 18 year olds do you know watch the same stuff as their parents?
    • chiefbandit2200, on 07/01/2008, -1/+8Yeah, that does seem a bit broad...
    • Taiyoryu, on 07/01/2008, -0/+17between 18 and 49 is the bulk of all the wage earning years... in other words, if you're between those two ages, advertisers are targeting you to spend your money
    • trogdor282, on 07/01/2008, -0/+4Men 18-49 universally like boobs, explosions, and fart jokes, and like to waste money on things they see in commercials. My dad and I both watch Family Guy, Lost, BSG, and so forth.
  • Doomsan, on 07/01/2008, -1/+58TV is dead
    • Smills, on 07/01/2008, -1/+10I agree completely. I no longer watch TV programs, I mainly use my TV for my PS3 and 360 and if I want to watch TV series or movies there is no way in hell I am sitting through ads. I just download them off the net. Who needs TV stations?
      • Thorpe, on 07/01/2008, -0/+6Plus, if you've missed out on a recent television series, it is most likely on DVD to watch at your convenience. A simple rental or purchase and you can catch up without all the annoyances of commercials.
      • igyigyigy, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1The TV producers?
      • digiframes, on 07/01/2008, -0/+2"Who needs TV stations?"

        Appearantly 50 year olds...
    • aidave, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1That would be nice if it were true, but a ***** of people are TV addicts. Especially old people who believe whatever the TV tells them.
  • Suneet67, on 07/01/2008, -8/+2buried for old news, drudge reported this two days ago
    • Shiftgood, on 07/01/2008, -0/+12are you seriously trying to impress us?

      because its totally working.
    • SwedishNinja, on 07/01/2008, -0/+3This is Digg. I'll see something on Drudge, and then 2-48 hours later, it will be a top story here. I only come here for the comments, which you can't really do on Drudgereport.
    • JigoroKano, on 07/01/2008, -0/+3The Drudge Report? That place that spews anti-science and conservative propaganda?

      Some of us don't hang out there.
  • whataboutdave, on 07/01/2008, -2/+13I haven't watched TV regularly over the last few months. I didn't come to some revelation - it just sort of happened.

    I go to a bar for sporting events I want to see and I usually watch shows on the internet long after they air.

    I'm more productive than ever and I have some extra cash on hand to boot.
    • Spudster, on 07/01/2008, -0/+2It's amazing how much of your life is consumed by television if you do watch it. My only regret is that I am missing a lot of pop culture references more now than I ever used to. Oh well, that is probably good thing..
  • mike7899, on 07/01/2008, -2/+18it's old people that are watching it, i can tell because of all of the commercials aimed at old people
    • TRScheel, on 07/01/2008, -0/+5What commercial gave it away? The viagra ones? Or how about cialis? Maybe the combo pills to cover high cholesterol and high blood pressure?
    • MajorCrazy, on 07/01/2008, -0/+6DIABEETUS. LIBERTY MEDICAL. TESTING SUPPLIES. MEDICARE. CALL NOW. LIVE A BETTER LIFE.
    • achoi, on 07/01/2008, -0/+10ALL SENIOR CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE LIFE ALERT
    • Spudster, on 07/01/2008, -0/+10HELP! I'VE FALLEN AND I CAN'T GET UP!
    • petebot, on 07/01/2008, -1/+2A pill. That can make a man larger?
  • kh99, on 07/01/2008, -1/+2It's reassuring to know that I'm not the oldest person watching "How I Met Your Mother".
  • danno74, on 07/01/2008, -3/+11TV blows. Just grab a torrent and watch when you want. I don't have time to even setup a DVR to record.

    Anyone whose life revolves around a TV schedule is sad.
    • Jrr6415sun, on 07/01/2008, -4/+3anyone who doesn't have 15min to set up a dvr has a sad life
      • lAmoebal, on 07/01/2008, -0/+7Anyone who takes 15 minutes to set up a DVR has a sad life.
    • Angostura, on 07/01/2008, -1/+1Oh dear. Me and the wife sit down to watch Dr Who on a Saturday evening.
  • RealmDown, on 07/01/2008, -1/+3"These commercials are being brought to you by the award winning "Monk."

  • Calcularius, on 07/01/2008, -1/+19TV is so last century.
  • bratterscain, on 07/01/2008, -0/+12TV? What's that? I catch it once in a while, mostly Discovery channel but it's hard for me to sit through anymore. I grew up watching McGuyver, A-Team, Airwolf, Max Headroom, etc when TV and it's commercials wasn't so loud and obnoxious and Saturday morning was "cartoon day", as we called it and what we looked forward to on Saturdays, airing the Snorkels (remember them?), Gummy Bears, Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pac Man cartoons, etc. Maybe it's me, idk, but I can't stand to watch it much anymore if I have the internet.

    Oh yeah, I have cable but don't pay. I'm not sure I would if I had to pay though. I've had free cable TV ever since I lived at my new apt. My policy regarding that is, don't ask, don't tell. Oops.
    • TheSexyGeek, on 07/01/2008, -0/+3I grew up watching all the same stuff you did. I hardly find anything of interest on TV these days. Especially since everything went to "Reality TV" Ugh! Right now, it's just movies and Discovery/National Geographic, etc. There's just one or two mainstream shows that get my attention, but I don't watch them on TV.

      TV just can't compete with the instant, random access of the Internet. I just finished watching 2 seasons of heroes in 2 weeks. If I had to follow a TV schedule, I would have never seen any of it, no matter how interesting it seemed.
    • Spudster, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1We had our cable cancelled but funny enough the cable guy never came to actually *cut* the connection. I have a suspicion he was too lazy and took the rest of the day off. So we have free cable like you have now. I live by your rule, don't ask, don't tell.
  • gweedo767, on 07/01/2008, -0/+34I am 26 and watch less TV now then when I was 16-20. I have a few reasons:
    1) There are less shows that interest me
    2) I have two children and a wife, we do stuff together
    3) My free time is move involved with videos games
    • tehawesome531, on 07/01/2008, -0/+10Same here, and I'm only 16. I used to watch maybe 6-8 hours of TV a day. Now I probably watch 2 hours a week.
      I spend most of my time on the computer. It's better.
    • leerayIG88, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1Married? How do I get a g/f? Any tips?
  • ensta2, on 07/01/2008, -6/+4I hardly ever watch TV now. Its all youtube and DVDs now
  • po43292, on 07/01/2008, -7/+8Not surprised to see Fox News getting the oldest crowd: >65? Voting should be revoked with their driver's licences at that age.
    • MSP1, on 07/01/2008, -6/+3Bet you are one of the immature of the species, i.e. under 35. I always thought people should not be allowed to drink, vote or use Digg until they are at least a bit grown up, i.e. around 30. Anyone under 30 does not have a clue about anything.
      • po43292, on 07/01/2008, -1/+1Just under 30, thanks for your input. I'm not a high school dropout under 15 as was your assumption. Bet you're one of the Fox News species over 50 probably. How can you generalize and say that someone under 30 doesn't have a clue about anything? There are different kind of intelligences, some based on fact, some on intuition about situations, and some based on some of both.

        I spoke to a professor at a bar in his 50s the other night who actually told me I was quite bright for my age, but that I need to apply myself a little more. So quit generalizing an entire generation.
  • Thrilltone, on 07/01/2008, -1/+1Andy approves
    http://trueartnow.com/3/peaches.htm
  • zippy757, on 07/01/2008, -0/+54When I was 20, 30 was old. When I was 40, 50 was old. When I was 70, I felt bad for those old farts in their 80s. Now that I'm in my 80s, and I'm old, I watch TV.... AND I love Youtube!

    PS: There are many, many 'old' folks on the internet. Many read DIGG everyday. I've personally driven hundreds to do so. We simply don't type the comments....besides being hard to do, we simply enjoy watching the young voice their opinions with such passion....

    PPS: When you were 15, 25 was old. I guess that makes most DIGGers 'old,' by someones standards
    • SteaminTmann, on 07/01/2008, -0/+9I think you've got something there, grandpa
    • Smills, on 07/01/2008, -0/+17It's great to see older people on the net. Keep it up!
    • franklymister, on 07/01/2008, -1/+22I was just reading through some of your other comments and submissions. Wow - a World War II veteran on Digg.

      I want Kevin and Alex to have you on Diggnation - this is too cool.
    • 42Vindictive, on 07/01/2008, -9/+1Oldie.
    • schroeder, on 07/01/2008, -0/+4Just added you as a friend. I'm looking forward to seeing the perspective of someone your age on Digg.
    • Psi57, on 07/01/2008, -0/+2The median age for Fox News is 65! Maybe some old folks on the intertubes might work to counter their influence...
    • Karmavs, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1I'm fifteen right now.

      You're all old.
    • deadbaby, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1You're exactly 8 times older than the average digger.
  • whiteknives, on 07/01/2008, -0/+13Internet killed the TV star?
  • acidbathfan, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1I don't doubt it, excluding video games the only time I ever watch TV is with my grandma regardless if it's in HD or not. I used to watch G4 after they made the transition from Tech TV but gave up on them when it seemed every other show was a episode of Cops. I just watch Game Trailers, IGN, Destructoid, or Revision3 now instead for video game news & previews.
  • TomT223, on 07/01/2008, -0/+3Explains all the Erectile Dysfunction ads.
  • TherealObadiah, on 07/01/2008, -9/+2Maybe the unrelenting forced liberal bias in the news and entertainment fair have forced many of us to abandon TV altogether. Yeah, keep forcing that liberal pablum down our throats and let's see network TV go the way of the dying old liberal newspapers.
  • Brownds, on 07/01/2008, -1/+3My TV is just a PS3, Xbox & Wii accessory. My family has more fun with Mario Kart then watching the crap that passes for TV nowadays.
  • sodoh, on 07/01/2008, -4/+1internet is killing TV slowly. It is what people get used to. Media you want to watch gets easier to see when your not force fed adverts.

    The downside to this is your going to see more embedded advertising into shows, including scripts being written around them. Latest I've seen as a good example is "Burn Notice". Brilliant series but as season 1 progresses you will see more gratuitous mobile phone shots, new cars being described and ipod wearing mofos.

    A bit less subtle is "Chuck" + "Heroes".
  • sodoh, on 07/01/2008, -3/+1internet is killing TV slowly. It is what people get used to. Media you want to watch gets easier to see when your not force fed adverts.

    The downside to this is your going to see more embedded advertising into shows, including scripts being written around them. Latest I've seen as a good example is "Burn Notice". Brilliant series but as season 1 progresses you will see more gratuitous mobile phone shots, new cars being described and ipod wearing mofos.

    A bit less subtle is "Chuck" + "Heroes".
  • tonyteetime, on 07/01/2008, -1/+0and.. the average age may go higher if they bring back "Murder She wrote" :-)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder,_She_Wrote
    • 42Vindictive, on 07/01/2008, -0/+2Dude, that show was awesome, so shut it. And I'm only 16.
  • getjustin, on 07/01/2008, -0/+3I think Matlock just got greenlit....again.
  • hazard, on 07/01/2008, -0/+2Talk about your life flashing before your eyes...
  • AyaJulia, on 07/01/2008, -1/+9TV = background noise for WoW and FFXI. And I usually have it on the Food Network if I don't have a DVD of my own in there.
    • Pebcak, on 07/01/2008, -0/+3Holy cow, I didn't think there were any Americans left who still played FFXI. Once in a while I get the urge, reactivate my account, and get on, but there's no one to party with. :-(
      • AyaJulia, on 07/01/2008, -0/+3Yeah, we're still around. Life in that game gets easier when you have 8 jobs at level 75, lol. x.x;; But yes, it's hard to level up new jobs anymore these days... everyone leveling anything has access o a side account to just PL themselves solo anymore. :
  • johanrocks, on 07/01/2008, -1/+2I don't watch TV anymore either. It was basically a combination of things (don't need 99% of channels that I don't watch, prices WAY too high, unreliable service, HD signal compressed 10000%, etc.). Now, I have a TV for 360/PS3/Wii and it's also hooked up to my media center PC so I can stream videos to it. Any TV shows that I need to watch I download as commercial-free HD videos that I stream to my TV, but that's maybe max. 5 videos a week. Basically, I stopped watching TV because of three reasons:
    1) The cable companies screwed me
    2) There was a better way to get my shows
    3) I felt like I was wasting my life just sitting and watching mosly ads for a good 5 hours a day
  • crownedgriffin, on 07/01/2008, -1/+1About the only thing I watch on TV anymore is CurrentTV, and I can watch that on the internet. If I ever get enough money together for an HDTV, I'll hook my computer up to it so I can watch all the stuff I get off BitTorrent from my couch. .. Oh, and video games.
  • medfreak, on 07/01/2008, -1/+4People still watch T.V.? Lets see:

    News: Immensely biased news networks litter T.V.s. No thanks I would rather choose my sources.
    T.V. Shows: Digital Distribution is at an all time high. No ads and no nonsense. I download the shows then buy the DVDs
    Entertainments: When a game like GTA IV pulls more money on its launch than the top big screen movie, you think TV stands a chance?

    TV lost its place a long time ago.
    • bilbravo, on 07/01/2008, -2/+1Because every video game that comes out makes as much money as GTA IV right? ... what games are "like" GTA IV (assuming like == notoriety level, not gameplay style) ? Halo and Madden games are about all I can think of...
      • medfreak, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1World of Warcraft pulls 150 million dollars... a month... for the past 4 years, ignoring the box cost. Metal gear solid 4, Final Fantasy, Mass Effect, Gears of War. All of these gross above a hundred million dollars each, and many many more. Even Crysis a game supposadly selling poorly, sold around 1.5 million copies, grossing around 65 million dollars. People are pouring hours of their free time into mmorpgs. Whether it is a good or a bad trend is not the issue, but the fact much of this is pulling a large portion of the younger demographic away from TV.
  • jzuska, on 07/01/2008, -1/+2Youtube and netflix and dvr. What's TV?
    • mdude85, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1TV - that thing you record with your DVR
    • Psi57, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1Bittorrent and EZTV and RSS. What's DVR?
  • zbeast, on 07/01/2008, -1/+4500 channels and there is nothing on.
    Why watch, unless your playing for movie channels watching a movie on commercial tv is torture.
    Plot points and language are censored, blaring loud ad's every 10 min's.
    Everything else is cop show's preaching the message behave or the government will get you.
    Way waste your time watching this crap.
  • phydeaux70, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1TV is not entertaining enough to watch on a regular basis. I may have a baseball game on occasionally, or something on The History/Science/Discovery Channel, but other than that there isn't a show on television that I find interesting enough to watch.

    Even if I have one of those events on I am usually on the computer, so it's more of a background thing.

    Perhaps they should do a study to see if the people who watch TV on a regular basis have a computer and if so, how often do they use it.

    If I watch TV I want to be informed, and since news is so skewed to one side I'm better off on the Internet. And if I want to be entertained I want to choose what entertains me.....not watch another 'reality' program to watch others sink into the abyss they call 'life'.
  • danieldantastic, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1Viagra ads FTW!
  • jbwyme, on 07/01/2008, -0/+3House/Scrubs/Heroes/Entourage - pretty much all my tv is good for.
  • gryphon50, on 07/01/2008, -1/+0The advertisers are not going to be happy w/ that finding, because statistically older people don't buy as much as the younger demographic.
  • NightflyLester, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1Should be good for CBS...
  • somedigguy, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1It would help if there was something on worth watching. Even the news is only about 10 min long with continuous rehashing of the same material.

  • MrDo, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1Living without cable tv wouldn't bother me as long I have a internet connection.

  • endgame, on 07/01/2008, -2/+1Zippy757 ROCKS!
    http://digg.com/users/zippy757
  • jfg84, on 07/01/2008, -1/+0Is that picture implying that only old people watch Monk? Because I'm in my 20's and I think that really is one of the best shows on television.
  • apextek, on 07/01/2008, -0/+2"Fox News Channel's daytime and primetime skeds the absolute oldest, clocking in with a median age above 65." ha I knew it! Fox New's key demographics is going to start dying off left and right in another 5 years.
  • leerayIG88, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1I just watch an hour of Seinfeld.
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