MEPS
−
Televisions April 2005
Page 11
A study produced for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority by
Wise Analysis Ltd
Data on the overall ownership profile for televisions in New Zealand became limited when
licensing ceased in 1999, and data collection is now only carried out by Statistics New Zealand
and through surveys by firms such as A C Nielsen, all of whom charge for detailed
information.
The data in Table 2 was obtained from Statistics New Zealand’s Household Economic Survey,
and excludes TVs in commercial premises such as hotels. In using it for the purposes of
economic analysis, it will thus produce conservative numbers. It does indicate that the number
of principal (first or only) TVs in households is 1,463,900 compared with a total number of
TVs of 2,785,600, i.e. on average almost every household has two TVs.
Table 2: Estimated number of TVs in households for the year ended June 2004
Number of TVs in
household
Estimated
number of
households
Percent
Total No
of TVs
Equivalent
Australian
Data (2000) %
0 30,600
2
0
0.5
1 590,200
39.5
590,200
38.6
2 541,900
36.3
1,083,800
39.4
3 242,200
16.2
726,600
15.3
4
63,000
4.2
252,000 ) 6.2
5+
26,600
1.8
133,000 )
Total all households
1,494,500
100
2,785,600
100
Note: Household numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Household Economic Survey
The available Australian data suggests that television penetration probably increased linearly
from 0% in 1956 (the date of introduction) to about 90% by 1975. The New Zealand data
appears to lag the Australian data slightly in some categories, but probably not significantly.
Television ownership is in excess of 1.86 televisions per household.
Table 3: Penetration of Television Ownership – Australia & New Zealand
New Zealand (Year and source)
Australia (Year and source)
1959 (no TV)
0%
1955 (no TV)
0%
1961 (Census
−
NSW)
48%
1966 (Census
−
NSW)
70%
1970 (Census
−
NSW)
90%
2000
(NAEEEC)
99.5%
2004 (Statistics NZ)
98%
The average age of TVs in New Zealand is not known. Current economic life of standard CRT
style TVs is assessed as averaging 7 years, with 70% falling between 6-11 years. Before the
advent of video game accessories such as Playstation and X-Box older TVs were passed on to
children for their bedroom, or taken to holiday homes. However with the advent of
Audio/Video (A/V) input requirements for Playstations etc, more modern TVs were demanded
by users. As the prices for smaller new TVs dropped, the older stock was replaced, although
the older sets probably still account for the 22% of homes with 3 or more TVs.
Based on a seven year life, the stock of TVs in households owning one and two TVs is
approximately 1.7 million and an approximate sales figure would be one seventh, or 240,000
