With so many ways to watch television now available Mature Times is interested to know how, where and what you watch.
With the advent of iPlayer and other methods of ‘catch-up’ TV, it is not necessary now to plonk yourself on the sofa in time for your favourite soap, or to miss an outing with friends so that you can see the final episode of that thrilling drama you’ve been following.
With so many of us spending hours in front of our television sets we want to know if and how viewing habits have changed over the years – and what and why you are watching.
Research has shown us that young people are turning away from television sets and viewing online, on tablets and mobiles and often only watching YouTube and short video extracts.
And then there are the TV boxed sets! My children sent me a boxed set, which is actually a whole collection of programmes on DVD that you can devour in one go or eke out over time, which made me go out and buy a DVD player. This has added a whole new level to my televisual life. I am watching programmes that I should never have considered before and could not have seen as I do not have Sky or cable TV.
How many of our readers do have Sky or any of the other subscription services that you have to pay to view. Are they value for money? When some people moan about the monthly cost of a TV licence at around £ 12 and others pay up to £70 monthly full a full Sky package where is the reasoning?
How many hours a day you watch and how important a part of your life it is, depends on many factors. If you are disabled and live alone it may be your life line and the only company you get for days. Many of our readers feel an affinity with the characters they see on screen every day and talk back to their favourite presenters, as this may be the only person who wishes them a “good morning”. Who is your favourite TV presenter and do you look forward to seeing them?
Have your viewing habits changed over the years and how important is the TV in your home? The focal point of our living rooms used to be the fireplace but now it seems it is the flat screen that occupies pride of place.
Many of us probably did not have a set in the home while we were growing up and children’s entertainment was limited to books, Saturday morning cinema or ‘Listen with Mother’ on the radio.
Now there are whole channels dedicated to children of various ages. Has children’s television become an educational aid or just a babysitter? How about a fight between The Woodentops and The Teletubbies – who would you put your money on?
And finally let us know what you watch. What are your favourite programmes and nominate your favourite channel.
Please contact us on editorial@maturetimes.co.uk and help us put together a picture of our television viewing habits.
by Tina Foster
