If you check e-mail, or surf the net while watching television, you are not alone. A new poll of mobile users by Nielsen shows that viewers in the US and UK like to use their mobile devices while watching TV. Viewers in Germany and Italy, not so much.
In the United States, 88 percent of tablet owners and 86 percent of smartphone owners said they used their device at least once while watching TV over the prior 30 days. Almost half (45 percent) of tablet users said that they use their device in front of the TV on a daily basis. And 25 percent said they do it several times a day.
Among smartphone owners, 41 percent said they use their phone while tuned into the TV at least once every day.
Viewers in the United Kingdom also had the multitasking habit. 80 percent of tablet owners and 78 percent of smartphone owners admitted they use their devices while watching TV. Almost a quarter of respondents say they do it every day.
Italian and German respondents stayed more focused on the task at hand. In both countries, 29 percent of those polled said they never watch TV and use a tablet together, while 34 percent of Italians and 35 percent of Germans they don’t touch their smartphone while viewing.
Checking e-mail was listed as the most popular thing respondents liked to do while viewing television. Another notable amount of folks used their devices to check for information on the show they were watching, or a product advertised on TV.
I can relate to this study. While watching TV, both my wife and myself either have our iPad or iPhone in our hot little hands. She’s an Angry Birds addict, so she plays that while viewing, with an occasional email or texting break. I use my device for email and texting, but also use it to check for information on shows and actors I see on screen.