One screen is not enough any more. More than two-thirds of Australians are now browsing the internet on a tablet, laptop or smartphone while also watching television.

Analysts call it ''content grazing'', some might call it a short attention span, but 69 per cent of Australians use two or more screens when relaxing in front of the TV, according to a survey of 500 Australians by Mi9, a joint venture between Microsoft and Nine Entertainment Company.

Oliver Whyte with her Ipad in front of the TV. She often uses different media at the same time.

People use social media to comment on shows, or shop on a laptop after seeing a product on television. Surprisingly, only 24 per cent said they enjoyed this overload - most just did it out of habit, according to the survey.

Networks encourage viewers to multi-screen by providing hashtags for Twitter and broadcasting selected comments, or creating their own ''companion apps'' - Channel Nine runs ''Jump-in'', Seven runs ''Fango'' (dubbed ''the social way to watch TV''), and Channel Ten drives its viewers to Zeebox, which shares viewing information with other online contacts. Live shows generate the most multi-screen activity because viewers like to participate in real time, the head of research at Mi9, Gabbi Stubbs, said. Companies amplify advertising when it is delivered across multiple screens and sources.