We Now Watch Less Live TV, But More Programming Thanks to DVRs [STUDY]

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Of the three major devices we connect to our TVs -- gaming consoles, DVRs and DVD players -- DVRs get by far the most use. While we're watching less live TV than a few years ago, we now watch a full 19 minutes more per year of programming, just on our own schedules now.

Those statistics and more from a new Nielsen study reveal how TV-watching habits have changed with the growing popularity of DVRs.

"The percent of DVR usage has grown fivefold from a mere 1.6% in 2006 to almost 8% in 2011, and DVRs are adding time to our TV day by allowing us to watch shows airing at the same time. Leading the trend in DVR usage are females 18-54, who allot almost 10% of their TV viewing time to a DVR," the study says.

In 2006, DVR usage made up just 1.6% of TV time. Now it makes up 8% of our TV time, according to Nielsen.

The chart below breaks down the distribution percent of minutes using a television and its various connected devices, according to age demographics.

Check out the video above to learn more about the effect of DVRs.

Tell us in the comments: How often do you use a DVR? Do you think you watch more television -- though likely fewer commercials -- because of it? How has being able to record and fast forward changed your TV-watching habits?