Official statistics from The Broadcasters' Audience Research Board's updated measurement panel (BARB) showed Britons watched 30 hours and 4 minutes of TV a week during the first three months, or more than four hours a day.

The increase was attributed to greater choice, with 94 percent of households now accessing digital TV; a rise in on-demand services which allow people to watch programs they have missed; and the economic recession.

"Anyone who doubted the continuing importance and popularity of broadcast TV in the UK should hopefully be convinced by these new figures," said Tess Alps, chief executive of Thinkbox, the marketing body for commercial TV in Britain.

"However, record levels are unlikely to continue. We are nearing the peak, if we are not there already. Once analog signals are finally turned off in 2012, the figures are likely to stabilize, but hopefully will remain at these high levels."

本周二公布的数据显示，今年英国人每周看电视的时间增加了约两个半小时，一方面是因为经济拮据使人们待在家里的时间增多，而另外一方面则是因为可看的电视节目更多了。

英国广播听众调查委员会最新监测组发布的官方统计数据显示，今年前三个月，英国人每周看电视的时间为30个小时零4分钟，也就是每天看电视超过四小时。

英国人看电视时间增多一方面是因为可供选择的电视节目增多，目前英国有94%的家庭拥有数字电视；另外电视点播服务的出现让人们能够看到他们错过的节目，此外经济衰退也是原因之一。

英国商业电视市场营销机构Thinkbox的执行总监苔丝?艾尔普斯说：“这些最新数据应该能让那些怀疑电视广播在英国的影响力和受欢迎程度的人打消疑虑。”

“但是，这种创纪录的高水平不可能一直持续下去。即便现在不是最高点，离最高点也不远了。一旦模拟信号节目在2012年停播，这些数据可能将趋向于稳定，不过我们希望它们仍然能维持在这么高的水平。”