Children are watching less TV than a decade ago, according to a study from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
The research indicates children are watching 33 fewer minutes of TV per day than a decade ago with the average child now watching one hour and 55 minutes of TV content per day.
While 90% of under 15s watch children's TV, pre-schoolers are watching more free-to-air TV than their older counterparts.
Th study also indicates that children as a category is dwindling for commercial TV, with the ABC picking up the slack by showing more children-specific programming.
ACMA said the ABC was successful in luring away younger eyeballs as a result of it showing dedicated children's content, rather than family entertainment programming which tended to appeal to older children.
“While parents believe it is important that commercial television licensees continue to provide children’s programming, the research shows that ‘dedicated’ ABC children’s channels are consistently attracting a higher proportion of the younger child audience than commercial television,” the report read.
“At the same time, commercial television broadcasters are attracting an older child audience aged 5–12 years, watching more movies and general entertainment programs that have family appeal.”
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