Over-the-air TV viewers are up

The survey also found that minority and low-income homes are more reliant on over-the-air broadcasting than the general population. Minorities make up 40 percent of homes with TVs who don’t buy pay-TV services, the survey said. 

“Lower-income households also trend towards broadcast-only television, with 23% of homes with an annual income under $30,000 receiving TV signals solely over-the-air. In comparison, 11% of homes with incomes greater than $30,000 rely exclusively on broadcast signals,” the survey said. 

The findings come at a time when the wireless and technology industry argue that broadcasting is in decline as part of their push to get Congress to reallocate TV airwaves for wireless broadband. The Senate Commerce Committee will markup a bill to do so on Wednesday.