Spring Break
How We Watch, Listen, and Read
Media Habits @ HBS
Jack Sallay (OH), Associate Editor
Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: News
Do we here at HBS tend to read more than other people? Do we spend less time watching TV? Do we spend more time online? Yes, yes, and yes.
Many of us watched the CNBC special on HBS air this past December, and got a taste for how the media portrays the school. Personally, I was lucky enough to appear on camera (ever so briefly) and will admit that it was a little bit neat to see myself on national TV - my 15 milliseconds of fame. But with all of the talk around watching the show - who had DVR'd it, who had caught it live, who was trying to find it on YouTube or Hulu or CNBC.com - it got me thinking about how and what students at HBS watch, listen and read.
Around exam time first semester of RC year I remember professors assuring us that, no matter how poorly we did, we were still well above average. But what about when it comes to how we consume media? Supposedly we are smarter than average, but do we read more than other people? Do we spend less time watching TV? Do we spend more time online? Yes, yes and yes.
According to Nielsen in November 2008, the average American watches 8 hours and 18 minutes of TV per day - a stunningly high number. (With over 8 hours on the couch every day, it's amazing that so many people still have time to work, eat and sleep.) Our recent survey found that most HBS students estimated they watch less than 1 hour of TV per day. This small number of TV hours is not surprising when taking into account all of the necessary class time, case preparation, club events, speakers and recruiting activities, but it does seem to support professors assertion that students here at HBS are (be it good or bad) not average.
A Pew research poll in December 2008, however, found that TV is the most popular new source, where 70% of Americans get their national and international news. But most HBS students consider themselves well informed people and probably aren't getting their news from the scant few hours TV they watch.
Some here at school say that "cash is king", but it's clear from our survey that online media is the one that rules them all. Without a doubt students are making up for at least some of the time not spent watching TV by spending time online instead. According to eMarketer US adults spend on average 15 hours online per week. But here at HBS students estimated that they spend much more time. Over 75% of students spend over 15 hours online per week - well above average. Furthermore, an overwhelming majority of students reported getting their news online, with TV and printed papers distant alternatives.
Many of us watched the CNBC special on HBS air this past December, and got a taste for how the media portrays the school. Personally, I was lucky enough to appear on camera (ever so briefly) and will admit that it was a little bit neat to see myself on national TV - my 15 milliseconds of fame. But with all of the talk around watching the show - who had DVR'd it, who had caught it live, who was trying to find it on YouTube or Hulu or CNBC.com - it got me thinking about how and what students at HBS watch, listen and read.
Around exam time first semester of RC year I remember professors assuring us that, no matter how poorly we did, we were still well above average. But what about when it comes to how we consume media? Supposedly we are smarter than average, but do we read more than other people? Do we spend less time watching TV? Do we spend more time online? Yes, yes and yes.
According to Nielsen in November 2008, the average American watches 8 hours and 18 minutes of TV per day - a stunningly high number. (With over 8 hours on the couch every day, it's amazing that so many people still have time to work, eat and sleep.) Our recent survey found that most HBS students estimated they watch less than 1 hour of TV per day. This small number of TV hours is not surprising when taking into account all of the necessary class time, case preparation, club events, speakers and recruiting activities, but it does seem to support professors assertion that students here at HBS are (be it good or bad) not average.
A Pew research poll in December 2008, however, found that TV is the most popular new source, where 70% of Americans get their national and international news. But most HBS students consider themselves well informed people and probably aren't getting their news from the scant few hours TV they watch.
Some here at school say that "cash is king", but it's clear from our survey that online media is the one that rules them all. Without a doubt students are making up for at least some of the time not spent watching TV by spending time online instead. According to eMarketer US adults spend on average 15 hours online per week. But here at HBS students estimated that they spend much more time. Over 75% of students spend over 15 hours online per week - well above average. Furthermore, an overwhelming majority of students reported getting their news online, with TV and printed papers distant alternatives.
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