A survey by YouGov on behalf of YouView looked at the viewing habits of 2,000 UK residents over the age 18. The findings suggest a slow shift away from ‘live’ television, with recorded programming and ‘on-demand’ services continuing to increase in popularity. However, traditional broadcast TV continues to hold its ground against new technology.

Average viewing time breaks down to 16 hours of ‘live’ TV, nine hours of recorded content and six hours through catch-up and on-demand services. For younger viewers, on-demand accounts for a third of all viewing.

57% of viewers said they watch TV on their computer, compared to 25% on tablets and 14% on games consoles. An average of two hours worth of television are watched outside the home every week, predominantly while travelling or commuting.

The survey also reports that viewers are favouring bigger TVs, with 24% of survey participants owning a 32 inch set, 19% a 42 inch TV and 11% a 46 inch set or larger. 55% claimed to have bought a new ‘main’ TV set in the last three years, while one in ten respondents intend on investing in a 4K television within the next three years.

Some habits die hard, however: the TV itself is still the main source of content for over three-quarters of viewers, while 30% still use printed TV guides to determine their viewing plans. Although the amount of programmes recorded has increased to an average of 10 per week, 4 out of those 10 are deleted without having been watched.