IN U.K., TV HOLDS ITS OWN AGAINST THE WEB

Television viewing in the U.K. continues to rise despite competition from the Internet and home media, according to British broadcast regulator OFCOM. In a research paper published today (Thursday), OFCOM said TV viewing has expanded some 3 percent during the past year and now accounts for an average of 3 hours and 45 minutes per day. The report credited such hit shows as The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent for the rising viewer stats — as well as the number of digital video recorders installed in viewers’ homes. James Thickett, director of market research and market intelligence at OFCOM, observed: “Unlike VHS, which was such a hassle to set up and record a program that only a very small proportion of viewing was on video, DVRs give viewers the chance to watch the programs they really want to watch. It is bringing people back into the living room.”