US kids are watching more TV

US kids are watching more TV than they have in years; in fact kid TV viewing is at an eight-year high, according to new findings from The Nielsen Company.

The report says K2-5 are spending an average of 32+ hours a week in front of the TV, while K6-11 (who spend a chunk of their day in school) are watching about 28 hours per week.

Being in front of the TV includes actually watching what is on TV, as well as watching programming on DVR, DVDs and videos as well as video games. Nielsen says that increases in kid TV screen time mirrors that of overall increases in media consumption they've been tracking over the last two years, which includes TV, internet, video games and mobile phones, but still most of that is watching live TV.

Average Weekly TV and Peripheral Consumption
Among All Kids 2-5
Total Over 32 hrs
TV 24hrs 51mins
DVR 1hr 29mins
DVD 4hrs 33mins
VCR 45min
Game Console: 1hr 12mins

Among All Kids 6-11
Total Over 28 hrs
TV 22hrs 9mins
DVR 59mins
DVD 2hrs 28mins
VCR 18mins
Game Console: 2hrs 23mins

It is no surprise that both K2-5 and K6-11 are using DVRs easily, but the findings also point to the fact that K2-5 (50%) are watching more TV commercials in DVR playback mode in primetime for the four big broadcast networks during May sweeps, versus K6-11 (44%), Teens 12-17 (43%), People 18-34 (44%), People 35-54 (43%) and People 55+ (44%). Source: Nielsen Media Research