Media Consumption Trends in Russia under Digitalization

Abstract

The paper analyses media consumption in Russia and media business strategies. The authors describe the media environment and identify the central trends typical of the transition to digital communication in society. The research approach implies evaluating the volume and distinguishing features of information consumption using the main media resources (the Internet, television, radio and print media). The information and empirical base of the research include the data of the Mediascope analytical agency, the statistical data provided by the Russian Federal State Statistic Service (Rosstat) and the results of research studies performed by consulting companies for the period of 2003-2017/2018. The paper presents the dynamics and specificity of transformation in the media environment and discusses a range of trends in media consumption: such as communication technology development; changes in the structure of media consumption; an increase in online advertising; a gradual transformation of media, etc. The results obtained show that the share of organizations and households in Russia that use the Internet in their work is constantly growing, but this growth is uneven and heterogeneous. Our findings prove that there are age (generation) differences in using traditional and new media, and the frequency of using information resources is changing.