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Research groups Arbitron and Edison Research have discovered that Internet access is the "most essential" media type to consumers than access to a television.

The research, conducted in the US surveyed the habits of 1 749 Americans in distributed age groups. Edison Research discovered that the Internet is "most essential" to their lives when given a choice along with television, radio, and newspapers; 42 percent chose the Internet as "most essential," with 37 percent selecting television, 14 percent choosing radio, and 5 percent said newspapers.

While television still leads among those over the age of 45, Internet dominates among younger persons age 12 to 44.

When first asked the question in 2001, 72% of respondents said they would do without the internet, while only 26% said they would eliminate television. In the demographic of persons younger than the age of 45, the gap between the two forms of media is more profound, with more people choosing to live without TV.

Source: Edison Research