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It's likely a correlative study, which doesn't ncessarily indicate cause and effect. However, I can see a connection. Kids who read more tend to do better on tests--which test reading skills in addition to whatever else they are testing--and kids who read less tend to do worse. This applies to the general trend, and there are of course going to be exceptions.
It's a simple formula. More time reading means less time available for tv watching, but it isn't the tv watching that neccesarily is lowering the test scores, it's the lack of time spent reading. The flaw in a correlative study comes in here. The implication is that if you restrict kids tv viewing habits, their test scores will go up. Not necessarily. It would depend upon what leisure activities they chose in lieu of tv watching. Chatting on the internet practices both writing and reading skills. Playing videogames often involves critical thinking and analysis.
My kids won't have a tv in their rooms, but they will have shelves full of books--I have the books already, and they will have two parents who spend a great deal of their time reading. They will be read to frequently and will have restricted tv time.
Oh, and 22 hours per fortnight durin school? That's less than 2 hours a day. Australia is really lagging behind the US there. Here it's probably 4-6 during the school term.
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