Nielsen teases inaugural Gaming Report out next month

According to The Nielsen Company's annual United States video game market report, almost 5 percent of the average US household's entertainment budget goes to video games. That's more than what US households spend on print, music, TV, or DVD/Blu-ray.

That 5 percent figure (which is technically 4.9 percent) accounts for new and used games, downloadable content, rentals, and peripherals. Nielsen says that the number doubles among households that are active buyers of video games.

The coolest thing Nielsen thinks it found, though, is that while video game category buyers make up only 24% of the whole market, they still managed to surpass several other entertainment media categories in share of spending among average US households. According to their study, all print media accounts for only 4.2 percent, premium TV packages are 4.1 percent, DVD/Blu-ray purchases and rentals make up 3.5 percent, and all music purchases (downloads, CDs -- if anybody still buys those) get 2. 8 percent of the household entertainment budget. Stuff like going to the movies and regular TV packages still eclipse video game spending, though.

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According to The Nielsen Company's annual United States video game market report, almost 5 percent of the average US household's entertainment budget goes to video games. That's more than what US households spend on print, music, TV, or DVD/Blu-ray.

That 5 percent figure (which is technically 4.9 percent) accounts for new and used games, downloadable content, rentals, and peripherals. Nielsen says that the number doubles among households that are active buyers of video games.

The coolest thing Nielsen thinks it found, though, is that while video game category buyers make up only 24% of the whole market, they still managed to surpass several other entertainment media categories in share of spending among average US households. According to their study, all print media accounts for only 4.2 percent, premium TV packages are 4.1 percent, DVD/Blu-ray purchases and rentals make up 3.5 percent, and all music purchases (downloads, CDs -- if anybody still buys those) get 2. 8 percent of the household entertainment budget. Stuff like going to the movies and regular TV packages still eclipse video game spending, though.

The full report, titled Nielsen 360° Gaming Report: United States Market, is out next month.

Video Games Score 5% of U.S. Household Entertainment Budget [Nielsen Blog]