Skip to main content

Study finds TV trumps exercise or reading during summer months

roku commissions survey finds tv to be the top summertime activity girl watching instead of playing
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you think our nation is hopelessly addicted to television now, then get a load of this: Today, set-top box maker, Roku, revealed the results from an omnibus study it commissioned looking at television/viewing behavior during the summer months. The survey found that TV sits at the very top of the list of favorite summertime activities, more popular than such tried and true sunny-weather rituals such as “going outside” and “playing sports.”

As a result, Roku has kicked off its Summer of Endless Streaming sweepstakes, which gives contestants a chance to enter via Facebook to win a new Roku Streaming Stick (the HDMI version) and $200 worth of VUDU movie credits – so one lucky winner can watch even more TV.

Recommended Videos

The commissioned omnibus survey found that, when asked what they do on summer days, a leading 60 percent of respondents choose to watch their favorite TV show when deciding what to do on a typical summer day. Reading came in second (47 percent), followed by shopping (33 percent), jogging or hiking (19 percent), and attending a sporting event (16 percent). An additional 80 percent reported that they have chosen to stay in and watch their favorite TV show on a perfectly nice summer day – 43 percent of them even admitted to making up an excuse to avoid embarrassment. 92 percent of those surveyed said they keep up with their favorite shows even while traveling – some, in fact, seize their trip as a prime opportunity to catch up on shows that they’ve fallen behind on.

Roku’s social media manager, Melissa Morell, claims we are currently in a “golden age” of television, largely because of the plethora of easily accessible streaming choices available today. The simple and straightforward interfaces of devices such as Roku give viewers across all ages and levels of technological know-how a streamlined and user-friendly experience, and a place for all of their video content to live.

It’s important to bear in mind that this study was commissioned by Roku. Even still, these results are indicative of the rising popularity of television watching as it becomes increasingly easy to access a growing catalog of on-demand content. As younger watchers grow up in an age when video on-demand is the norm, what might we have to do to make sure they get outside and enjoy … ya know … real life? 

Alex Tretbar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alex Tretbar, audio/video intern, is a writer, editor, musician, gamer and sci-fi nerd raised on EverQuest and Magic: The…
These Beats ANC headphones are $100 off today
Beats Studio Pro on headphone stand.

One of the top headphone and earbud brands is and always has been Beats. Renowned for bass-driven sound profiles and iconic designs, Beats has been delivering stellar over-ear ANC products for many years, so we’re ecstatic to direct your attention to this great offer: For a limited time, when you purchase the Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, you’ll only pay $250. At full price, this model sells for $350.

We tested these headphones two summers ago, and our reviewer had this to say: “You still pay a premium for the Beats brand, but the Studio Pro is worth it.”

Read more
The 8 best QLED TVs for 2024
Hisense U8N QLED TV.

Editor's note: The best time of year for TV deals is during Black Friday. In addition to many of the first deals on new products — like $300 off on the Sony Bravia 9, the best overall QLED — it's the perfect time to pick up one of last year's models if you can find them. Check out our other Black Friday deals for even more savings on the best headphones, laptops, and more.

If you’ve been shopping around for a new TV, your brain is likely chock-full of acronyms and tech terms. We’re willing to bet that you’ve seen one group of letters again and again while researching the best TVs of 2024: QLED. An acronym for “Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode,” a QLED TV combines traditional LED backlighting with a layer of quantum dots. (We have a full explainer that answers the "what is QLED" question, too.) When charged, these dots enhance the brightness, colors, and contrast levels of a QLED, making for some of the most vibrant colors you’ll ever see on a modern set. And because they can get so bright, QLED TVs are some of the best sets for brightly lit rooms. 

Read more
The 6 best OLED TVs for 2024
sony bravia 8 oled

Editor's note: The biggest shopping day of the year — Black Friday — is almost here, and there are already TV deals you can grab. You can get Samsung's 65-inch S90C for only $1,000. It's a deal that we think makes it the best OLED to buy right now. You can save on more than just TVs on Black Friday. Check out our other Black Friday deals for more sales on headphones, streaming devices, phones, and more.

If you're on the hunt for the best TV for whatever you're into — movies and TV, sports, or gaming (check out our list of the best gaming TVs) — sitting at the top of the TV pyramid are OLED TVs. In lieu of traditional LED backlighting, OLED TVs use millions of self-emissive pixels (that create their own light and are not backlit) to create rich colors, inky blacks, and zero light blooming — in short, arguably the best picture in the business. Over the last several years, LG has been the predominant manufacturer of OLED TVss, but now the company competes with Samsung and Sony in the OLED marketplace. 

Read more