Fewer Greater Des Moines residents are tuning in to local television newscasts than a year ago, according to the latest ratings issued by Nielsen Media Research. It’s a reflection of national trends observed by the research firm, which has found that more people, particularly young men, are turning to the Internet for news and entertainment.

At the same time, situation comedy reruns increased their share of viewers during the 5 and 6 p.m. time slots.

According to ABC News, viewership of men between 18 and 24 has dropped 20 percent this year. This compounds the loss of viewers that local programming has seen in recent years due to a plethora of programming available through cable and satellite television.

Ratings shares are determined by the percentage of people with their televisions on who watch a particular show. Television has two key demographics most desirable to advertisers, the 18- to 49-year-olds and the 25- to 54-year-olds.      In the 18-49 demographic, KCCI’s 5 p.m newscast had a 22 share, down from 29 a year ago, WHO’s newscast had a 14 share, down from 17, and WOI’s newcast was steady at a 3 share.

Meanwhile, KDSM attracted 18 percent of the 18-49 viewers at 5 p.m. with “The Simpsons,” up from an 11 share last February, and 9 percent of viewers in the 25-to-54 demographic, up from a 7 share a year ago. KPWB had an 8 share for “That ‘70s Show,” up from a 2 share, in both key demographics.

At 10 p.m., a favorite slot for advertisers, KCCI cemented its spot as most popular news provider with a 35 share of the viewers age 18-49, up from 34 a year ago; WHO had a 23 share, down from 28, and WOI rose to a 3 share from less than 1 percent a year ago.

For 25- to 54-year-old viewers, KCCI was again most popular with a 37 share, down from 38. WHO slipped to a 26 share from a 28 share last year, and WOI climbed to a 3 share from a 1 share last February.