Americans spending more time online than in front of TV

Clickznews reports the fourth installment of the Digital Future Project (formerly the UCLA Internet Report) examining media usage among Americans found for the first time the number of hours spent online in 2003 exceeded those spent watching television. The study also found a correlation between the increase in online time and a overall decline in television viewing.

Here’s the average number of hours spent by Internet users by year, amount of time online and amount of time watching television.

• 2003 12.5 11.6
• 2002 11.1 11.2
• 2001 9.8 12.3
• 2000 9.4 NA

Not surprisingly, the Television Bureau of Advertising, in conjunction with Nielsen Media Research, discovered opposing results in its 2003 study. Adults averaged 258.4 minutes in front of the TV each day, compared to 65.8 minutes online. You can guess that TV advertising dollars fueled that study.

The only thing this study does not take into account are idiots like me with my laptop on my lap in front of a Packers, Notre Dame or Cubs game on television.