Nielsen 2005-2005 TV Universe Estimates.

The total number of television households within the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii) is now estimated at 110,200,000, according to Nielsen Media Research. These estimates, which are projected to January 1, 2006, will be used for the entire 2005-2006 television season. Nielsen also reported today that the number of ethnic television homes in the U.S. has increased significantly since last year, and because of more people migrating to the South and Western regions of the U.S., Nielsen is reporting many shifts in its local market rankings.

NATIONAL CHANGES:

Nielsen Media Research’s national Universe Estimates reflect the continued growth of the U.S. ethnic populations. The Hispanic and Asian populations continue to be the fastest growing in the United States. While the total number of television homes increased by half a percent, the number of Hispanic television homes in the U.S. increased by 2.9%; the number of Asian television homes increased by 3.2%; and African American television homes increased by 0.8%.

Nielsen’s new national Universe Estimates also reflect the aging of the baby boom generation. The U.S. Census Bureau defines the baby boomers as persons born in the post-World War II period from 1946 to 1964 when the U.S. birth rates were at record high levels. In 2006, the oldest boomers will reach age 60, while the youngest will reach age 42. While the percent of total persons in U.S. TV Homes increased by approximately 1%, there were larger percent increases in the number of persons over age 55.

LOCAL MARKET SHIFTS:

Many of the local television markets increasing in Nielsen’s Designated Market Area (DMA) rank are in the southern and western regions of the United States. This movement is attributed to many people recently migrating south and west, and is consistent with the population growth estimates recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, 60 of the 100 fastest growing counties were in the southern portion of the U.S. and 23 were in the west.

The following is a list of the more notable changes at the top of Nielsen’s DMA ranking:

– Houston moves into the top 10 TV Markets
– Tampa-St. Petersburg moves up to #12
– Phoenix moves up to #14
– Portland, Oregon moves up to #23
– Charlotte moves up to #27
– Columbus, Ohio moves up two spots to #32
– West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce moves up to #38
– Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York moves up to #41
– Albuquerque-Santa Fe moves up to #46
– Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem moves up to #47
– Las Vegas moves up three spots to #48

For a full listing of the 2005-2006 local television markets CLICK below:

http://www.nielsenmedia.com/forclients/05-06_DMAs.xls