Norwegian Media Barometer 2012

Norwegian Media Barometer is a publication based on Statistics Norway’s annual survey about the use of mass media. In the survey a representative sample of the total population aged 9-79 years, answer questions about their use of different mass media and access to mass media in their household. The survey has data on the use of mass media for all days of the week and different seasons of the year. The first survey was conducted in 1991. With the exception of 1993, the survey has been conducted annually.

In the 2012-survey 1 996 persons participated. The results from the survey show that on an average day, 55 per cent of the population read newspapers issued on paper, against 63 per cent in 2011. We use 23 minutes daily for newspaper reading. There has been a tendency towards declining newspaper reading the later years.

10 per cent read weeklies on an average day in 2012, against 12 per cent the year before. There was a small decline in reading of weeklies during the 1990’s, but the last years it has been fairly stable. Women and older individuals are the most eager readers of weeklies. 9 per cent read magazines etc. on an average day, men more often than women. 25 per cent read books on an average day. Women are the most eager book readers. Individuals with higher education read books more than others. Fiction is most read, both among women and men.

40 per cent listen to records, cassettes, CD’s, MP3 or sound files during an average day in 2012. Among young individuals eight out of ten were listening. Almost seven out of ten listeners listen to files downloaded from the Internet. 11 per cent view VHS, DVD, hard disk recorders or PC-files during a day.

60 per cent listened to the radio on an average day I 2012. This is an increase from 55 per cent the year before. More time was spent on radio listening in 2012 than the year before. 77 per cent watched television on an average day in 2012. This was a decline from 81 percent in 2011. There was also a considerable decline in the time spent on TV in 2012 than the year before. Young and older individuals have the highest viewing rate, but the elderly spend most time on it. The viewing rates are highest for news, TV-series and sports.

70 per cent used a PC at home during an average day in 2012. Older women use a PC the least. 80 per cent use the Internet during an average day. Both men and women have increased their Internet use during the last year. Three out of four Internet users read news on the net during an average day.

67 per cent go to the cinema during the year. The young go most often to the cinema, but the number of visits has declined. 65 per cent of boys aged 9-15 years play television or computer games during an average day. On an average day, 80 per cent have a private mobile phone conversation, 22 per cent use the mobile phone for e-mails, while 35 per cent use the mobile phone for Internet use. 43 per cent have a hard disk recorder 2012. 28 per cent have access to a DAB-radio at home. 57 per cent have a smart phone and 37 per cent have a tablet. 62 per cent had a newspaper subscription in 2012, a decline form 68 per cent in 2011.