Americans Turning to Internet-Connected TVs for Audio

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, July 9, 2025 | 11:13am CT

Edison Research

While television may no longer dominate media consumption the way it once did, new data shows that Americans are still engaging with their TVs -- just in different ways. According to Edison Research's Share of Ear study for Q2 2025, Americans age 13 and older now spend 6% of their daily audio listening time through internet-connected television devices.

Though this share remains far below that of mobile devices and traditional AM/FM radios, it reflects a shift in how TV sets are being used in the digital age. Internet-connected TVs, much like smartphones, offer a broad range of audio streaming options that go beyond video content.

The largest share of audio listening on connected TVs is spent watching music videos on YouTube, accounting for 53% of that time. Streaming music services such as Spotify, Pandora, and Apple Music make up the second-largest category at 21%, followed by podcasts at 13%.

One notable finding is the relative strength of podcast consumption on connected TVs. The data shows that people are more likely to listen to podcasts on their smart TVs than on smart speakers -- 13% of TV audio time versus just 3% of smart speaker time -- highlighting the appeal of content that blends audio with visual elements.

As internet-connected TVs become more prevalent in U.S. households, their role in audio consumption is expected to grow, continuing to reshape how Americans interact with media in their living rooms.