E6KgraphdescriptionbarchartLucia

The bar chart displays the percentage of children watching TV between 1998 and 2008. Overall, the percentage decrease slightly over the first five years and then it is followed by a steady period before a significant increase in the last two years.

In 1998 the percentage of children who watched TV daily, reached a peak of 80%. After this year, the percentage dropped continuously with 70% in 2000, 65% in 2002 and down to the lowest point of 55% in 2004, which represented a drop of 25% from the 1998 peak. From 2004 to 2006, the percentage of 55% remained stable followed by a sharply increase to 80% in 2008.

A number of reasons, mostly technological developments probable caused this trend. The introduction of personal computers and internet after 1996 resulted in the gradual abandonment of the “idiot box”. The stable period by 2004 might be possibly due to the fight to keep the infantile audience and the introduction of a cheaper pay TV. The later increase during 2007 and 2008 was likely a consequence of the evolution of digital TV, therefore the improvement of TV quality which attracted a new audience.