Televisions have been a part of the family for decades, providing hours of entertainment and fun (from fantasy and sci-fi to horror and romance). Watching television has been linked to a family event due to how expensive they used to be; a central television in the living room used to be all that households had, and everyone gathered on the sofa to watch their favourite shows.
With the innovation of technology and with prices lowering, families have been buying more televisions for their home. In addition, tablets, smartphones, and streaming services have provided audiences with alternative means of watching films and TV shows.
Binge watching has become a norm in today’s society, with people often preferring to watch the entire show rather than wait for weekly episodes. But why do people binge watch television?
Is Binge Watching Just a Fun Event?
According to Ofcom’s annual Communications Market Report 2017, 40 million people in the UK have subscription services, like Netflix, or on-demand services, like BBC iPlayer. Why? So they can watch as many episodes as they want in one sitting, of course! 35 percent said to do so every week and 55 percent do it monthly.
In the Ofcom study, 32 percent of people admitted to having given in to the temptation of watching another episode, which left them feeling tired from lack of sleep. 70 percent, however, said that binge watching was enjoyable and relaxing while 24 percent said that binge watching allowed them to discuss shows with friends.
74 percent of people said that they watched more episodes than they intended to, although 18 percent claimed that they always watched more than I previously decided on.
Binge Watching Favourite Shows
Young people are the majority in binge watching, with 53 percent 12 to 15-year-olds saying they like to binge watch shows. 59 percent of the older generation said that they prefer to wait for an episode every week. Binge watching has become the new television watching experience, with two in five adults saying they watch television alone every day and nine in ten saying this is a weekly event.
One-third of people still follow the traditional gathering together to watch television, however, they use separate screens to watch different shows. 68 percent of adults say that watching television brings the family together but it seems this event isn’t too common, with only 30 percent saying they do it every day.
What is your opinion on binge watching? Do you do you or do you prefer to wait for an episode every week? One thing is certain, however, new technology is revolutionising the way we watch television. Here at Cheap TVs, we have a wide range of televisions that are sure to fit your viewing habits. From smart TVs to 3D and 4K, you’re sure to binge watch your shows or watch an episode at a time on a high-quality television.
