NEW YORK — Only 10% of Americans ages 18 to 24 watched local television news during the previous week, according to newly released research from Ring Digital’s #FutureOfTV.Live initiative.
That compares with 64% of adults 65 and older. The study also found a broad daily television gap: 31% of adults ages 18 to 24 reported watching television each day, compared with 81% of the oldest respondents.
The research surveyed 1,376 U.S. adults and weighted the results by age and gender to U.S. Census population data. It was sponsored by Big Blue Marble, a cloud and streaming services provider.
Young audiences have not necessarily abandoned local information
The viewing platform appears to be changing faster than the audience’s interest in news. The study estimates that 108 million U.S. adults watch news video on their phones daily. Among surveyed mobile news-video viewers, Facebook and YouTube Shorts each reached 46%, followed by TikTok at 37% and Instagram Reels at 33%.
For local newsrooms, the challenge is no longer limited to persuading younger viewers to watch a scheduled newscast. Stations must make individual reports discoverable on mobile platforms, establish recognizable reporting personalities and give viewers a reason to return directly to the station.
The findings should be interpreted with appropriate caution. Ring Digital is an advertising services company, and the sponsor sells streaming technology. The research nevertheless identifies a measurable generational divide that local television cannot dismiss.
Source: Radio & Television Business Report, September 24, 2026.