A French authority has investigated the consumption behavior of the population. It has found that older people love linear television, while young people are hardly interested in it anymore. This poses a long-term challenge for companies that have primarily relied on linear TV.
In France, the Arcom (Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique), an independent regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication, has published a study examining the main audio and video trends for 2025.
The study not only looked at which devices are used in households but also which services are consumed by users. Television and radio remain the preferred media, yet there are significant generational differences. While older people primarily prefer linear television, young people increasingly use digital and streaming services.
Older people watch television, young people prefer digital content
What do the numbers look like?
- Nearly 60% of 15- to 34-year-olds consume content daily through streaming platforms like YouTube, Netflix, or TikTok. At the same time, the ratings of major channels in this age group are declining sharply.
- For those over 65, 71% of video time is accounted for by linear TV.
What about Germany? The platform Statista reports on a transformation in our country. The figures are from November 2024 and also show that linear television is primarily used by older people. Young people particularly prefer digital and streaming content, which they consume predominantly:
- Among 40- to 49-year-olds, about 27% spend more than eleven hours a week in front of the television, for the 30 to 39 age group it was 20%, and Gen Z barely reaches 11%.
- In comparison, Gen Z mainly consumes digital content: Among 18 to 29-year-olds, 30% spend more than eleven hours consuming digital content, and among 50 to 64-year-olds, this number is the lowest at 16%.
Why is this data important? For traditional players in the audiovisual sector, this change poses a significant challenge. They must try to retain the attention of young people, for whom content must always be immediately and directly available. The typical system, where a new episode of a popular series airs on television every day, is no longer acceptable for many young people.
Many companies in this field are now considering how to sell their products to their users. The question of how to advertise in the future is also frequently raised.
Gen Z and the so-called Boomer generation differ significantly from each other, including in terms of purchasing and consuming certain goods. This is noticeable in the direct comparison of the generations. We present to you things that are used or purchased daily by “Boomers,” which have hardly any relevance for Generation Z: 6 things Boomers spend money on every year that Gen Z would no longer do today
