While mounting gas prices, the expiration of the payroll tax cut and the effects of government sequestration may have slightly lowered consumer spending in several major industries, a recent report by Nielsen shows that many people in the U.S. haven’t cut costs and are actually spending more time and money on one major area: entertainment.

While live television still plays a major role in consumers’ lives, U.S. audiences are no longer dependent on network scheduling to access programming.

While direct response advertising isn’t losing steam, marketers and consumer product manufacturers are looking more toward social media, mobile and video ads online as platforms to introduce shoppers to the brand and strengthen the relationship between the company and its audience.

According to the findings, tablet users are the most likely to watch TV news, with 43 percent of these consumers surveyed saying they watch more television than they did five years ago.

As more consumers flock to the web to access short-form videos and television programming, videos ads online have proven successful investments for brands, advertisers and publishers.

With streaming rates increasing every day, many brands are introducing video ads online to their multi-platform marketing campaigns.

The rate at which streaming technology is maturing and the number of content providers opting to put shows and live events online means one thing for brands: Video advertising on the web is becoming a vital part of any successful marketing campaign.

The amount of video content consumed online on computers, smart TV apps, tablets and other platforms has grown so important, streaming is transforming how audience members, publishers, brands and analysts understand television shows and movies.

Despite a troubled economy, last year saw a year-over-year increase in total ad spending of 3 percent to reach $140 billion.

While 2013 may be well underway, many companies are still learning from last year’s accomplishment in the digital sphere and are looking for future marketing investment guidelines. In the 2013 U.S. Digital Future in Focus report, comScore examines several benchmark tech trends and events in 2012 that changed the future of consumer behavior online forever.