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People are losing sleep over the Internet.  

I’m not talking about students researching papers that are due the next day or obsessive compulsive fan boys waiting for midnight to strike so they can see the new Slipknot masks.

I’m talking about TV and Newspaper executives.  

I came across an interesting article at Variety.com that speaks to the changing media landscape.  It details a study that finds the average age of those watching Live TV  is older than ever before.  I say Live TV because this study didn’t measure delayed viewing or DVR use.

What’s the age you ask?  50.  Yep, the people who watch TV the most are half way to 100 years old.

Okay that last sentence is total “Internet Sensationalism.”  50 isn’t close to 100.  As a matter of fact if 50 is old than to get to 100 you would have to live a whole other 50 years to get there!  So you would have to be a whole other 50 year old older.  That makes 50 seem young.

Just thought I’d call myself out on an obvious spin.

This is actually interesting for a few reasons.  First of all, it’s the first time that the average age of TV viewers has fallen out of the coveted 18-49 year old age demographic.  Secondly,  it marks another sign that more and more people are getting their entertainment and news from other media sources like the Internet.

Why stay up late to watch one of your favorite comedians on The Tonight Show when you’ll be able to watch it and discuss it tomorrow at your leisure on YouTube or the network’s web site?  Tonight Show viewers by the way have a median age of 54.  

Check out the article for more specific and interesting stats on different shows such as the average age for viewers of Supernanny is 41 and Nightline viewers are 52.  Hey did you know that the median age for U.S. households is 38?  

Okay I’ll stop.  

The Washington Post  points out that newspapers are also feeling the hit from the new media.  Circulation is down, jobs are being slashed and designs are changing all in an attempt to compete with the Internet.  

Will it work?  The article makes a good point when it states that Newspapers can’t beat the Internet at it’s own game.  

Physical newspapers are not going to be able to be updated at any time throughout the day, have readers comments and ideas added instantly or be able to transform into another paper instantly.

One of the big arguments against the Internet is that it is too shallow and catering to an A.D.D. mindset where sound bytes matter more than substance and research is second to sensationalism. There are cases to be made for that to be sure but the truth is that you can find EVERYTHING on the Internet.  

If you want shallow, sensational sound bytes you can get your fill but you can also splurge on in-depth, well researched articles.  That’s the real strength of the Internet.  You create your own experience. You can get whatever you want, when ever you want it with just a click of a mouse.  

How can anything compete against that?