menu
Weekly Online Magazine
ISSN 2544-5839
zamknij
MediaHisttory Podcast image

11.05.2026 Media industry

TVs in Europe, the USA and China. What and how we watch on them

Paweł Sobczak

The Living Room Study shows significant differences in video content consumption across different regions of the world. This is the result of diverse media ecosystems shaped by decades of local broadcasting, channel availability, and strong cultural factors.
Poczytaj artykuł wydanie polskie w wydaniu polskim

TVs in Europe, the USA and China. What and how we watch on themillustration: DALL-E

Interesting conclusions come from a study conducted in early 2026 by RTL AdAlliance on a group of 15,500 respondents aged 18-64 across 15 European countries, including Poland, as well as the USA and China. It turns out that 9 out of 10 residents of our continent have a television in their home. Europeans are much more likely than residents of the United States or citizens of the Middle Kingdom to watch video content on TV every day.

  • 64% of surveyed residents of the Old Continent do so.
  • For comparison, in the USA, 41% of users watch content on TV every day.
  • In China, this figure is 40%.

"The television remains the most popular device for consuming video content both in Europe and in Poland. The example of MEGOGO, a platform for watching TV content online that also offers access to a VOD library, shows that despite the strong position of TVs, other devices also find their supporters," comments Artur Pacuła, CEO of MEGOGO in Poland. "This is a result of the technological capabilities offered by apps. They can be installed on practically any device, allowing users to enjoy content from anywhere."


MEGOGO data from 2025 confirms the popularity and dominance of televisions. Last year, 44.92% of users watched content on this platform using a TV. This consisted of traffic from:

  • Smart TV (34.58%),
  • Android TV (10.15%),
  • and tvOS (0.19%).

Smartphones were used for this purpose by more than every fifth person (22.48%). Additionally, including mobile web users—who might watch content on a smartphone without using the app (8.37%)—we reach a total of 30.85%. A computer or laptop was also chosen by more than one in five users (23.50%).

Smartphones outpace TVs in the United States and China


While the television remains the most popular device for watching video content in Europe, it has been outpaced by the smartphone in the United States and China.

  • In the USA, 61% of respondents use it daily for this purpose (20% more often than TV).
  • In China, this figure is as high as 81%, meaning it is more than twice as preferred as the TV, which is used by the aforementioned 40% of respondents.

The living room is the most popular place to watch video content


When asked "where do you most like to watch video content?", 83% of respondents in Europe indicated the living room, which decisively beat the bedroom (46%). These were followed by the kitchen (18%) and the bathroom/toilet (11%).

SELF PROMOTION. Listen to the story of Larry King. Discover our #mediaHISTORY podcast

"Comparing habits regarding preferred places to watch video content brings interesting conclusions. In Europe, the living room is not just a room for entertainment or rest. It is a place where people experience something more," comments Artur Pacuła from MEGOGO Poland. "Nearly half of viewers—45 percent as a European average—still choose to watch with someone else, turning screen time into a shared moment rather than a solitary routine. This shapes behaviors: conversation or shared emotions, providing a sense of presence."

Europe shows clear differences compared to other markets. The preference for the living room is 25% higher than in the United States, where it stands at 58%. The bedroom enjoys almost identical popularity among Americans, with 55% of users from that country watching video content there. the kitchen is chosen by 19%, and the bathroom by 13%.

There is some similarity between the Chinese and Europeans regarding content consumption in the living room. It is preferred by 81% of Chinese residents participating in the RTL AdAlliance study. Just behind the living room was the bedroom, indicated by 71% of respondents. The kitchen and toilet gained the same percentage: 28%.

Share the article:

dodaj na Facebook prześlij przez Messenger dodaj na Twitter dodaj na LinkedIn

COMMERCIAL BREAK
Work In Media

New articles in section Media industry

New generations and the end of traditional news. Reuters Institute report

Krzysztof Fiedorek
Traditional news media are losing touch with the youngest generation of audiences, who grew up in a digital environment. Young people aged 18 to 24 spend time online continuously and expect publishers to take a fresh approach to presenting reality, according to a report by the Reuters Institute.

Cinema in the era of algorithms and AI

Arkadiusz Murenia
Will artificial intelligence kill the creativity of filmmakers? The most honest answer is: no, AI is unlikely to kill the creativity of filmmakers, but it will very clearly change the place where this creativity manifests itself and, above all, how.

Social media, journalism and advertising. Trust in sponsored content study

Krzysztof Fiedorek
Is sponsored content destroying credibility on social media? Research results are ruthless. We trust regular editorial posts in 87.5 percent of cases. When a bank pays for material, the rate drops to 20 percent. Young recipients equate commerce with falsehood.


See articles on a similar topic:

Television 2025. Report by the European Broadcasting Union

Krzysztof Fiedorek
Europeans are watching less and less television. In 2024, the average viewing time was 3 hours and 13 minutes per day. Only 54% of young people had any contact with TV, and public broadcasters held a 23% share. Television is losing relevance, especially among the youngest viewers.

The Future of Journalism and Media. Predictions by Reuters Institute

KFi
74% of publishers fear a decline in search traffic. Paid subscribers are no longer growing as they used to, and relationships with tech giants are becoming increasingly complex. The report "Journalism, Media, and Technology Trends and Predictions 2025" forecasts what lies ahead for the media world in 2025.

Streaming platforms in Poland. What criteria determine the choice

Paweł Sobczak
Price, indicated by 54.2% of respondents, and subject matter (54% of indications) are the most important factors influencing users' choice of content on streaming services. The service brand is mentioned by 18.1% of those surveyed.

YouTube vs. Television. The 50+ Generation Shifts to Computers

Krzysztof Fiedorek
For years, so-called "silvers" were primarily associated with traditional media like television. However, research by IQS for SilverTV and Lifetube shows that this view is outdated. The report’s findings clearly demonstrate that YouTube is becoming the new “television.”

More in the section: Media industry

Work in media

United States
New York • Washington DC • Los Angeles • Chicago • Houston • Phoenix • Philadelphia United Kingdom
London • Birmingham • Manchester • Liverpool • Glasgow • Edinburgh Canada
Toronto • Ottawa • Montreal • Calgary Australia
Sydney • Melbourne • Brisbane • canberra Ireland, New Zealand, India

advertisement

Media Review 24/7




community

Facebook LinkedIn X Twitter TikTok Instagram Threads Youtube Google News Blue Sky Social RSS

Reporterzy.info - online media studies magazine. The world of communication from the inside. Media, journalism, PR and marketing. Data, reports, analyses, advice. History and market, law, photography, job offers.



Reporter shopping

Reporter shopping

Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
for writing
Digital SLR and compact cameras
Digital SLR and compact cameras
for photographers
Books and e-books about media
Books and e-books about media
for reading
Video drones and flying cameras
Video drones and flying cameras
for pilots
Gimbals for stabilizing video
Gimbals for stabilizing video
for those on the move
Software and apps for creative work
Software and apps for creative work
for digital creators
More occasions

advertisementMedia Review 24/7
Read books and e-books

Read books and e-books

Okładka Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man
Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man
Okładka Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Okładka The 40-Day Social Media Fast
The 40-Day Social Media Fast
Okładka Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Okładka Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Okładka Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
more books and e-books

Reporterzy.info

More about us

Our tools and services

Contact


© Dwornik.pl Bartłomiej Dwornik 2oo1-2o26