Deloitte: Rise of Second Screens Cause for “Excitement & Concern”

LONDON: The use of screens such as laptops, smartphones and tablets while watching TV has been on the rise, which is a source of "excitement and concern" within the television and technology industry, according to a new report from Deloitte.

The report indicates that nearly one quarter of respondents, or 24 percent, are using second screens. Young people are the leaders in this type of engagement, with nearly half of all 16- to 24-year-olds using messaging, email, Facebook or Twitter to discuss what they’re watching on TV. With those over 55, 79 percent reported that they never use the Internet to talk about their TV viewing.

However, only one in ten say they browse the Internet for more information about the programmings they’re watching. Around 40 percent say they like to send comments for a live show. Yet 68 percent say they would not want the websites for products, personalities or adverts that have been shown on TV to automatically appear on their second-screen devices.

Paul Lee, the director of technology, media and telecommunications research at Deloitte, commented: “Second screening’s impact is far greater in driving conversations about a program, as opposed to interaction with it. Second screening may well end up with a similar status as eating in front of the TV: an everyday experience for some; absolutely unthinkable for others. One thing is certain: it is here for good.

“Browsing the web whilst watching television is undertaken ‘frequently’ by a third of the sample. This might be a brand new technology-enabled distraction or it might simply represent the swapping of an analogue distraction for a digital one. Browsing while watching television typically means flitting between a preferred set of websites, often comprising news, sports, e-commerce. Time spent on these may be a substitute for reading newspapers and magazines, or looking through catalogues.”