Norwegian media barometer, 2007

Internet use is still growing. The percentage of the population who use the Internet on an average day increased from 60 to 66 per cent among persons aged 9-79 from 2006 to 2007. The increase took place in all age groups, but particularly in the youngest groups. The amount of people who read newspapers on an average day has fallen in recent years. From 2006 to 2007, there has been a further decline, from 74 per cent in 2006 to 72 per cent in 2007. The decline took place particularly among children and young people.

Few differences for TV and radio

The proportion of people who watch television on an average day has changed very little in recent years. In 2007, the percentage was 82, compared to 83 in 2006. The proportion of radio listeners on an average day has also declined insignificantly, from 54 per cent in 2006 to 53 per cent in 2007. But as is the case for newspaper reading, this is in line with a longer trend with fewer radio listeners. We watched television for 2 hours and 32 minutes per day in 2007, four minutes more than the year before. We spent 1 hour and 20 minutes per day listening to the radio, three minutes less than in 2006.

Popular sound files

40 per cent of those who used sound systems on an average day in 2007 listened to sound files on their computer. A total of 35 per cent used MP3 players, compared to 31 per cent in 2006. More than one in two Norwegians now has an MP3 player. The use of sound players was stable from 2006 to 2007, with 43 per cent listeners per day in both years.

While the percentage of book readers on an average day was 17 in 1997, this increased to 24 in 2006 and fell slightly to 23 in 2007. The number of persons who read weeklies, magazines and cartoons on an average day has changed little from 2006 to 2007. The proportion who use electronic equipment for watching video/film has also remained relatively stable, despite the fact that hard disc recorders were included in the survey for the first time in 2007, in addition to video tapes and DVDs.

One in four boys uses internet games during a week

During an average week, 51 per cent of the population used the internet for bank services, buying goods etc in 2007, while 28 per cent watched a film, TV or video clips. 25 per cent joined a net society such as Facebook or MYSpace, and 16 per cent used games on the internet. Among boys aged 9-15 years, 73 per cent had played an internet game during an average week, while the percentage was 44 among girls. Furthermore, 80 per cent of girls aged 16-24 years had visited a net society, while the percentage was 64 for boys.

One in four has a hard disc recorder

While the access to VHS players in Norwegian households is falling steadily, there has been a considerable growth in the access to DVD players. From 2006 to 2007, this increased from 80 to 84 per cent . In addition, 24 per cent had access to a hard disc recorder in 2007. 63 per cent had Internet with broadband connection in their household in 2006. This increased to 71 per cent in 2007. The strong increase may explain the large growth in Internet use during the last year.

12 per cent of the population used game consoles or played PC games on an average day in 2007. The corresponding figure for 9-15 year olds was 61 per cent for boys and 32 per cent for girls.

Seven in ten have a newspaper subscription

71 per cent of the population had one or more newspaper subscriptions in their household in 2007. In the age group 67-79 years, this figure was 86 per cent, compared with 39 per cent among 20-24 year olds. In the large cities, 64 per cent had a newspaper subscription, while the percentage was 75 in more scarcely populated areas.

Read more in the Norwegian media barometer for 2007.