TVs Outnumber People in U.S. Homes

The average television home in the United States houses slightly more TV sets (2.8) than people (2.5).

The average TV home in 2006 received a record 104.2 channels, up eight channels from 2005. However, the percentage of cabled homes dropped from 68 percent in 2005 to 64 percent in 2006, according to data released Monday by Nielsen Media Research. There are 111.4 million TV homes in the U.S.

Twenty-eight percent of the U.S. TV universe has digital cable, while 23 percent has satellite or other specialized antennae receiving TV signals.

The number of channels to which viewers tuned for at least 10 minutes per week grew from 15.4 to 15.7.

Nielsen also reported 57 percent of commercials run 30 seconds.