subject: Frugal Canadians Opt For Web Over Tv [print this page] It's finally happenedIt's finally happened. Canadians have caught up with the rest of the world when it comes to web surfing. According to Ipsos Reid, the average Canuck spends more than 18 hours a week surfing the web compared to 16.9 hours a week watching television. It's what Canadians are doing on the web that may be surprising. They're watching television. As more of our favourite shows migrate to the internet, so do we, so in essence, we're not necessarily watching less television.
Although television shows are being watched on-line, the usage of radio, magazines and newspapers remains about the same. Part of the reason people are watching television on the internet is due to the rising cost of cable and satellite services, so watching television on-line for free is a logical choice. If you're not an avid television watcher, paying $30 a month is not really a big deal, but paying $80 a month to watch one or two shows just does not make sense to most people.
As we slowly climb out of our recession shell, it's still a good idea to save where you can and avoid extra spending or expenses. If excessive cable or satellite bills are weighing you down, then internet television just may be for you.
According to AdAge.com, US television giant CBS has sold out on its on-line advertising inventory for March Madness on Demand, bringing in $37 million dollars, up 20% from the previous year. Other major companies such as AT&T, soft drink giant Coca-Cola and credit card giant Capital One have all bought into the on-line advertising market.
Last year, 7.5 million people watched the NCAA tournament online, compared with 130 million on TV. The internet is an amazing tool and does not necessarily have to be only about television. It can also be a resource for information and provide help on any number of topics.
With more on-line content such as games, video-clips, movies and channels from abroad, these additional factors add to the growing trend. For younger generations, the internet is much more important than television than say to those over 55. Even though computers are becoming increasingly important to everyone, regardless of their age, they're still a form of entertainment.
If you're one of the many whose surfing is not because they dislike t.v., but rather because you haven't paid your cable bill, you may want to consider a private secured loan to consolidate your debt and pay off that massive cable bill. It could have you back to watching the small screen instead of staring at your monitor in no time.
