TV news exposure of young people in changing viewing environments: A longitudinal, cross-national comparison using people-meter data

Concerns have been raised about younger generations dropping out from news consumption and the possible consequences for political knowledge and involvement. Increasing opportunities for choice have been held responsible for distracting young adults from the news. This study analyzed TV news viewing among young people in the Netherlands and South Korea during the transition from low- to high-choice viewing environments. Individual people-meter data offered precise exposure measures that were comparable across countries and time. The results revealed that young adults in both countries spent less time watching news during this time of transition; however, more channels did not necessarily lead to a decrease in news consumption.