Simultaneous Internet & TV Users, 2014-2018 [TABLE]

Simultaneous Internet & TV Users, 2014-2018 [TABLE]

This year, 182.9 million Americans will use the internet while watching TV at least once a month, according to eMarketer’s first forecast of simultaneous media usage. That translates to 80.3% of internet users.

Not surprisingly, smartphones are the device of choice for multitaskers. This year, 146.9 million Americans will browse the web or use internet-connected apps on their phone (including chat apps) while they watch TV, representing more than two-thirds of internet users. And 68.0% of US internet users will use an internet-connected smartphone to do so. By 2018, that figure is expected to climb to 79.1%, the same year that 91.6% of internet users will use the web and TV at the same time.

Americans’ TV time is becoming increasingly distracted at a time when cord-cutting is already accelerating. This year, the number of cord-cutters will grow 15.7%, causing the number of pay TV viewers to drop 0.6% from last year. That means this year, the US will lose 1.3 million pay TV viewers. Read the rest at eMarketer.