News consumption in the UK

The aim of this series of reports is to inform an understanding of news consumption across the UK, and within each UK nation.

The findings are published as part of our range of market research publications that examine people’s consumption of, and attitudes towards, different types of content on different platforms.

2019 report

Key research findings: TV is the most-used platform for news, despite an overall decrease in use. More adults are using social media and fewer using BBC TV channels for news. The number of adults who use social media for news has increased from 44% in 2018 to 29% in 2019.

News consumption in the UK: 2019 report (PDF, 2.2 MB)

News consumption in the UK: overview of 2019 findings (PDF, 270.3 KB)

News consumption in the UK: 2019 data tables (XLSX, 6.7 MB)

News consumption in the UK: 2019 questionnaire (PDF, 417.5 KB)

News consumption in the UK: 2019 raw data (CSV, 80.9 MB)

News consumption in the UK: 2019 technical report (PDF, 164.2 KB)

Nations Reports

News Consumption Survey - Scotland (PDF, 682.6 KB)

News Consumption Survey - Northern Ireland (PDF, 490.8 KB)

News Consumption Survey - Wales (PDF, 737.1 KB)

2018

This report provides the findings of Ofcom’s 2018 research into news consumption across television, radio, print and online. It is published as part of our range of market research reports which examine the consumption of content, and attitudes towards that content, across different platforms.

The aim of this slide pack report is to inform an understanding of news consumption across the UK and within each UK nation. This includes sources and platforms used, the perceived importance of different outlets for news, attitudes to individual news sources, local news use and news consumption in the nations.

The primary source is Ofcom’s News Consumption Survey. The report also contains information from our Media Tracker survey, and a range of industry currencies including BARB for television viewing, Touchpoints for national newspaper readership, ABC for newspaper circulation, and comScore for online consumption.

Please note, because of changes we have made to the 2018 News Consumption Survey methodology, it is not possible to make direct comparisons to previous data. Further detail on how and why we changed the methodology can be found on slide 143 of the report.

News consumption in the UK: 2018 report (PDF, 2.6 MB)

News consumption in the UK: 2018 data tables (XLSX, 18.2 MB)

News consumption in the UK: 2018 questionnaire (PDF, 2.1 MB)

News consumption in the UK: 2018 raw data

News consumption in the UK: 2018 technical report (PDF, 183.3 KB)

2016

This report provides the findings of Ofcom’s 2016 research into news consumption across television, radio, print and online. It is published as part of our range of market research reports which examine the consumption of content, and attitudes towards that content, across different platforms.

The primary source is Ofcom’s News Consumption Survey. The report also contains information from our Media Tracker survey, and a range of industry currencies including BARB for television viewing, NRS for national newspaper readership, ABC for newspaper circulation, and comScore for online consumption.

News consumption in the UK: 2016 report (PDF, 1.7 MB)

News consumption in the UK: 2016 data tables (PDF, 26.0 MB)

Note: The tables on this homepage are used for our 2016 News Report. The tables published on Ofcom’s Statistical Release Calendar 2017 use a different base for “internet users” than the one we use in our Report. For comparability with our News Report the tables above should be used.

News consumption in the UK: 2016 questionnaire (PDF, 402.2 KB)

News consumption in the UK: 2016 raw data (CSV, 18.4 MB)

2015

2014

News consumption in the UK - 2014 report (PDF, 800.8 KB)

News consumption in the UK - 2014 data tables (PDF, 4.6 MB)
Note: These tables were reissued in July 2017. They correct a previous misallocation of Channel 5's wholesale and retail news.

News consumption in the UK - 2014 questionnaire (PDF, 177.6 KB)

News consumption in the UK - 2014 slides (PDF, 2.6 MB)
Note: This report was reissued in July 2017. It corrects a previous misallocation of Channel 5's wholesale and retail news.

2013

News consumption in the UK - 2013 report (PDF, 642.5 KB)

News consumption in the UK - 2013 data (PDF, 4.0 MB)
Note: These tables were reissued in July 2017. They correct a previous misallocation of Channel 5's wholesale and retail news.

News consumption in the UK - 2013 slides (PDF, 2.0 MB)
Note: This report was reissued in July 2017. It corrects a previous misallocation of Channel 5's wholesale and retail news.

News consumption in the UK - 2013 data (ZIP, 511.2 KB)

News consumption in the UK

2019 report

Nations Reports

See also...