18-34 Age Group Tuning In To Online Gaming During Traditional Prime Time Viewing Hours, PlayStation 2 Online Gaming Audience Grows 239% Percent in One Year
Foster city, Calif., March 4, 2004 The newest hit during prime time television hours is not showing on any of the major networks. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. said today the audience for online gaming with the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system grew to 2.6 million this month and the majority of gamers were online during traditional prime time television hours.
According to the first ever analysis of online gaming released by the world"s leading game console maker and online gaming experience, during the month of February the audience for online gaming with PlayStation 2 was at its strongest from 5 to 11 p.m., hours before traditional prime time kicks in and long after it has concluded. And 18-34 year old males made up about 65 percent of the online audience during prime time hours in the month of February, a sweeps ratings period for the television industry. Online gaming may increasingly pose a challenge for broadcasters. The audience for online gaming with PlayStation 2 was up 239 percent when compared to February of last year, with 67,708 new gamers registering during the 29 day month.