The list of “things that killed the VCR” is pretty lengthy – I mean, just start naming semi-recent technological advancements in the way human beings consume TV and movies and you have your list right there. Digital cable, DVDs, Netflix, DVR – the VCR, though perfectly useful in its time, is simply a relic of the past.
Right?
Well, not exactly. Gallup recently conducted a poll concerning Americans and their tech preferences, and there’s a lot of good data there. But the most interesting piece of data (at least to me), is the one that says 58% of American adults still have a VCR. Sure, that’s dropped from 88% in 2005, but still. 58%?
In fact, here’s a list of things that, according to the Gallup research, are found with less frequency in an American home than a VCR.
- Desktop computers (57%)
- Dumb phones (45%)
- iPod (45%)
- Gaming console (41%)
- Streaming service (39%)
- Tablets (38%)
- Satellite TV (34%)
- E-readers (26%)
Yes, Americans apparently own VCRs at more than double the rate of Kindles.
As you might expect, VCR viewership is more common among older adults. While only 41% of those aged 18-29 still own a VCR, 74% of those aged 65 and older do.
I guess grandpa still needs some way to record those golf tournaments.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
