I’ve basically given up the teev. There’s just so much stuff online to keep me occupied all evening long.

I’ve been travelling for four months. Seen almost no TV in that time. Don’t feel like I’ve missed a thing! But then I’d virtually given it up well before I quit m’ job and hit th’ road anyway.

So, do the good people of OLO find themselves watching less television and spending more time online these days? Or is TV as popular as ever?

Dear Ludwig,

I don't watch that much television. But there are some
programs that I do enjoy. Sunday mornings - "The Insiders,"
is a must. As is "Q and A" Monday evenings. I enjoyed
"Midsomer Murders," when it was on. And I love "The Big
Bang Theory." "Lateline" is another program that I
don't miss, as is "60 Minutes." I became addicted to
"My Kitchen Rules," and developed quite a thing for Manu
Feidel.

Lexi, you’re a veritable TV fiend!

Where DO you find the time to be so prolific on OLO??

Ludwig I am finding TV most annoying these days.

All the good stuff, mostly documentaries that used to reside on the ABC when it was still worth having, are now on SBS. This is most unfair to all the non metropolitan viewer who can't receive their programs.

Unfortunately I often find 3 of the half a dozen things I would like to watch for the week, are on at the same day & time, with a couple of them on the SBS stations. I refuse to start taping TV programs.

I recently realised I had not seen Quantum for some time, one thing I really liked, as I never look at the ABC section of the program these days. Unfortunately when I did watch it, I found some "B" grade global warming pot boiler, & turned it off for ever.

We really must cut the funding to the lefty propaganda machine some time soon.

Only the cooking show on Lexis list is not on mine.
I have it on now ABC 24.
If nothing else it helps ward off the grumpy old man within.
Stay in touch not just with news but trends and younger folk.

i couldnt live on my two dollar per day limit
if i had to pay a dollar perday..to watch free to air

for a dollar per day
i want no adverts

so many people with more money than sense
my taxes into nbn..so people can watch adverts on the web

lord they are all insane
paying to watch..[by yelled at..insulted..by advert's]

its free to air
paid for by adverts
if its now pay..to watch..dump ya adverts

lol

i will admit its still all c*rap

lets not begin with non stop advetorials
for ever new gadget re-runs..in between the adverts

Sheesh, all these grumpy old men :)

I have two satelite dishes, one for free to air, the other for
foxtel. The quality of the pictures is amazing these days, with
a large flatscreen LED which uses less power then the old sets and
digital TV. Some of those travel documentaries, or David Attenborough
documentaries, are just amazing! When I was younger, I travelled
a huge amount and loved it, but now, with all those security issues
and the huge cost of travel, frankly its easier to see in on high
quality tv.

One of my favourite shows is on commercial tv, called "how its made"
They show and explain the production lines which make anything from
pencils to John Deere harvesters. The Ferrari factory tour was
interesting, from making the engine block to the finished car ready
to roar. Then Bloomberg keeps me up to date as to what is happening
in things financial, direct from New York. Ain't technology grand.

When I first watched tv out here in the sticks, it was one or two
channels, sometimes visible between the snowy picture, depending on
the weather

ludwig,
I watch a commercial news and the ABC news each evening. Not much else

I used to watch Midsomer Murders when it was on. But was concerned about so many murders in a small community. As it happened on SBS was interesting about war history. I am not an avid fan but, if available, I watch the Swans play AFL. QI can be funny.

Seldom watch the comercial channels and pride myself in how quick I can mute the adds, when I have those channels on.

Most nights after the news it is on the computer for me.

Ludwig,

The strangest thing happened to me around the time of the 2010 election - I lost the desire to watch TV. It is extraordinary because I used to be quite a newshound and was somewhat addicted to the whole thing.

I still watch telly a bit, and I'm more likely these days to watch a DVD, but overall I'm less comfortable with passively absorbing just any old thing.

I get most of my news on the net, and if I see anything that catches my particular interest then I follow it up on TV. But I missed being drowned in coverage of all the middle-east uprisings...ie, I kept abreast of developments, yet didn't subject myself to the heartache and slaughter by constantly watching the anguish - same with the present situation in Syria - I know of it, but I'm not watching it.

Basically the ABC and SBS for me. I undertook a free trial of Austar and quickly found I was not interested in paying for anything except the History channel and had it uninstalled, but then others want it for cartoons or sport which would bore me silly. If I want to be amused then I might watch "yes Minister" which I think is clever, or some of the English costume dramas, otherwise it's documentaries and news and finance and discussions like Q & A

If there is anything on the commercial channels, I automatically record them to watch at leisure and zap the advertisements. This way 60 minutes becomes something under 45 minutes and like the wiser amongst you, keep the mute button within reach when the likes of short news items, weather etc. are broadcast and interrupted by stuff I definitely don't want to hear.

See we are mostly ABC watchers,how do you pay for free to air OUG?
And the docos surely we watch them.
ANZAC day soon real film and would not miss it absorb Poirot?
Nah not me get my grumpy old man hat on an tell the screen its junk.
Keeps me in touch like most watch about one tenth of what is making the noise in the background.
One of my two dogs watches it all,square eyes!

Perhaps not, Belly.

>>See we are mostly ABC watchers<<

You won't find anyone here confessing to an addiction to The Voice, or Australia's Got Talent, or The Block, now will you? We're just witnessing the standard responses to a question like this.

"I don't watch it any more, it's all rubbish" is par for the course, but some brave people do admit to an "occasional" glance at the ABC...

(Just in case you are wondering, I had to look up the names of those programmes - they were, apparently, Monday Night's top rating shows. I, of course, don't watch anything except extremely worthy documentaries. And occasionally the ABC News...)

Dear Pericles,

I forgot to mention that I've just started to
watch, "The Voice," and am loving it. Keith
Urban is a surprise as is Seal. I have
watched "Australia's Got Talent," a few times
but found the judges a bit lame. However,
I am looking to watching "Celebrity Apprentice."
Loved it the last time. And I am enjoying -
"Dancing With The Stars." ;-)

Ludwig - I juggle my time - and am quite used to
"multi-tasking." I do manage to get everything
that needs doing - done (on most days).
Including my regular runs around the park - and
cooking. (love to cook).

Dear Ludwig,

I don't have a TV, never felt the need - it just hasn't been part of my life except for a few years as a teenager. I will never agree to allow the noise, chaos and commercialism that comes out of that box into my house, into my peaceful private space.

I get my news from the radio (usually while driving) and online and if I believe that a particular movie is sufficiently worthwhile, then I buy the DVD.

Hi there LUDWIG...

You're indeed very fortunate to be able to spend as much or as least amount of time adding to this, and other forums that may be available.

Should I spend more than sixty or eighty minutes in the early evenings, scouring OLO or similar, my dear wife would scold me for not sitting with her, watching our Television.

When I retired, we connected to Foxtel, where there's an abundance of good programmes available. Fortunately neither of us care for the 'soaps', thus we usually just watch Doco's on those channels that offer that sort of material.

For a bit of Drama, the UK Channel is pretty good, and they generally serve-up some brilliant British Comedies.

The various News channels can be pretty good also. Giving you a somewhat divergent perspective on world news, together with some opinions, that can be occasionally biased and somewhat distorted.

In reality, I'd probably miss my TV now that I'm in a position to just sit back, snooze, and vegetate while I languish in front of the Box.

Thus, my retirement is now complete.

Multitasking, Lexi? Maybe, but not multi-screening… I've set up two PVRs that are capable of recording five simultaneous broadcasts from free to air channels onto the main TV which can do picture in picture. Then to round things off, I've got two of the computers' screens set up to be in the same eyeline.

Fortunately, much television can be consumed without needing the audio all the time and is enhanced frequently with the use of the fast forward button. To round things out, I've currently got 73 'favourited' radio programs/episodes on BBC iPlayer – yes I know that number surprised me too when I checked it 10 minutes ago – but I do limit myself to their six main networks.

Have to admit I've been a bit lazy of late with the stacks of books awaiting completion or consumption.

Who can explain the strange attraction of The Amazing Race, Dexter, Supernatural, the relaunched Doctor Who amongst many – but I regard all my consumption of trash TV as an ongoing psychological analysis of what the unfabulous people in Australia are watching. Just in case I ever need to talk down to them. I mean... talk to them.

Well will watch ABC ever night at 7.30!
Doctor who!
yes second childhood? no love it.
Docos SBS too.
No longer tough enough to watch the music shows elderly female presenters with two tubes of spack filler under the make up.

I watch less and less TV, I must be getting old like you lot.

I remember when I was a teenager we had a teacher who didn't own a TV and I though he was a weirdo. I am nearly there myself now.

The thing is, comercial TV isn't for anyone over 30. 35 at a stretch if you're female.

TV is generally for young people attracted to shiny things. I have only recently made this revelation, the discovery of why most TV is crap. It's not fair to judge it based on a decent life expereince or any sort of maturity or anything, you have to realise the peak audience is 18-25 year olds. And bogans of course.

I content myself with critiquing and interrupting the shows my partner watches and annoying her by predicting the whole plot of Rafters after the first 2 minutes and complaining that Better Homes Than Yours doesn't realistically report the cost of materials (They always omit the incidentals like screws/nails, spices, tapes and spray paint cans etc) and assumes a fully equipped Kitchen and Tool Shed with every possible modern appliance and power tool.

All I watch really is sport though I am less interested than I ever was as there is just so much of it on and it's been commercialised to within an inch of it's life.

I watched House MD for a long time, and did like shows like The Thick Of It and Rake that come along every once in a while.

Oh, and I sometimes get tip-offs via text message from my mates about ACA and Today Tonight. We amuse ourselves by picking the most ridiculous segments warning us of some danger, or the excuses to show women in bras, or the best are the ACA 'Special Report's`!

"I am nearly there myself now."

I'll take your word for it... but wierdo or without a TV? Both?

On the basis of: "I watch less and less TV, I must be getting old like you lot" I must have regressed to kindergaten entry status.

The current affairs game sounds titillating, but.

Watching telly is all well and good - marvellous technology and all that, and nobody is more surprised than me that I've gone off it to a greater extent.

Howdy, Houellie, I noticed you dropped onto the Atheist thread over yonder in the articles section - and did your usual party trick of relieving yourself on the banquet table (dousing the pomposity, I believe it's called).
.
...hope you feel better now :)

Hi Poirot,

I saw a thread with a million posts and thought what's going on in there. Of course my first instinct would be to make some kind of toilet joke, but I decided that the OLO residents deserved a much bigger serving.

Why is OLO so much about god? Is Graham really into it?

I think you have some of that wrong Houelly.

My lady has kids entering your commercial TV audience bracket, but can watch the thing all dam day, & night. Yes she even likes some soap, as did my mother, when in her 90s. They could discuss some soaps as if they were talking about acquaintances.

She really likes that awful Judge Judy, & Doctor someone on in the afternoons, & will not miss that night one with very fat people alternately jumping around then crying.

Hell she can even watch the dreadful drama put out by the ABC, & the BBC. I have finally worked it out, drama is when they all shout a lot, but to be top drama they must intersperse the shouting with periods of silence, while they stare meaningfully directly into the camera.

Comedy it appears is when they have a hidden audience, [a computer perhaps] laughing regularly to A/ make sure you know it's funny, & B/ know when to laugh yourself. The above drama specialists are supposed to be good at this.

I'm not too sure of the comedy bit, as I usually find myself leaving the room, to avoid being sick on the carpet, so haven't seen much of it.

Then we have that talking heads stuff on the ABC, where a bunch of lefties sit around, & alternately pee in each other's pockets. Frightfully unhygienic, & terribly boring. Perhaps we should give the ABC more money, so they could build enough toilets, to avoid this unpleasant practice.

It really is amazing that I can pull up a TV program with 18 channels, & some nights, not find a single thing I want to watch. The next night there is likely to be 3 things I could be interested in, all on at 7.30, then more garbage for the rest of the night.

It can't all be bad for everyone. I was amazed to find people cruising the reef in yachts, anchoring in particular spots, not because they were safe, or comfortable, but because they had better TV reception.

I think for some Hasbeen, the question isn't 'what do I want to watch on this TV', it's 'Now that I'm going to watch TV, what should I watch out of these choices'.

Of course people can enjoy shows aimed at others, and I was generalising of course, but I had to find some way to explain the stupidity of people watching the same formulated plots and reality shows again and again. My conclusion, which you have just shot holes in, was that the people watching it had not seen sufficient FBI chief with personal issues solve a heinous crime and catch the bad guys enough times before.

I think though, when watching a show, lots of people aren't really watching. I watch some of my wife's shows, but am unable to remember a single character's name. I am in some sort of a trance like state thinking of other things. I wonder how many other people actually watch the TV or are in a trance like me.

Same as ACA. I cannot, will not, believe that much of the population really is that thick. I think the large majority of viewers see it as a parody like I do. I would love to work on the ACA team, I bet they laugh their asses off every day coming up with this stuff.

Well I think that there is some kind of intelletual snobbery that
goes on, when it comes to claiming what people watch on tv.

Personally I'm more like Lexi, I multitask so to speak, but I like
to stay informed. So I might have the tv and internet running,
along with the Oasys, along with something cooking for dinner.

The Ipad tells me what is on both tv satelites, so with a quick
flick of the ipad screen, I can take a look at what might interest
me. I've seen some great programmes on CNN, some on BBC, some
on the Discovery Science or History channels.

All this for less then 2 bucks a day for the tv and less then
1.50 a day for the net. What a bargain!

Why should I limit my options for being well informed, by some
kind of intellectual snobbery?

Yabby,

There's no doubt about it, there is no excuse for not being well-informed these days. I still feel reasonably well informed even though I'm not monitoring the news outlets like a used to.

But I wonder how we're all supposed to accommodate the sheer scale of what's on offer in the electronic media? It's truly mind-boggling to have access to so much information...an information overload in many ways. It's so hard to really ruminate on one issue as there is always something else beckoning for attention as well. I, for one, find it hard to resist continually poking around - and I'm not even watching much telly. The reality is that I've simply switched one addiction (telly) for another (internet).

You can do what you like Yabby. I'm jealous though, as I am frustrated that there can be so many channels, but nothing I would like to watch.

I suppose to be 'informed', I would rather read. I hate news sites when you want to read a story only to find a video. Why is everyone obsessed with videos. Sometimes it's just a picture they put up and some guy talking.

The only shortcoming is that I generally get a lot of pronunciations wrong, as I have never heard the words from different languages, only read them.

I don't see you mentioning any kind of entertainment shows, more non-fiction and documentaries and such. I don't see how it's intellectual to reject seeing essentially the same plot regurgitated, often with the same actors, again and again and again.

That's why I think it's people who just haven't heard the same song that many times that can still enjoy that. I feel the same way with sport, and I only really watch series and games that promise to be significant. I don't see how any of it is intellectual or snobby at all Yabbs?

*I will never agree to allow the noise, chaos and commercialism that comes out of that box into my house, into my peaceful private space.*

Well Houllie, that was one example, on this very thread. But its
common, people claiming to only watch ABC or SBS. Some time ago
I was fooling around with one self claimed intellectual, she would
not even have the tv openly showing in her lounge, it was hidden
behind some closed cupboard doors.

Poirot is correct, there is just a mass of information out there,
but I don't see why I should limit my sources to a certain medium.
Ive found interesting stuff on all sorts of channels.

I remember hating history at school, for it was just a matter of
trying to remember names and dates. Yet when I saw the story of
the British industrial revolution on telly, over a number of hours,
I was fascinated! They showed all those old machines, how they
worked, why the canals were dug, I remember thinking how lucky
kids now would be, to see that kind of stuff, unlike me, who just
had to try and remember names and dates.

Nope, I don't watch soapies or sport, personally I'd find them
boring, but I watch some of the cooking shows as I love to eat well,
so enjoy be creative with food. Then comedy of course. Or music.
Why on earth not use the technology that is available so cheaply?

If you want to see some really smart, cute chicks, try Bloomberg.
Even old Warren Buffett can't help himself when he is being
interviewed by Betty Lou or Lynsay Janis :)

I forgot to add that I like to read as well - I mean read a "book" that contains bound paper leaves with print that you hold in your hand, smelling of mustiness or new print. I tend to have several of those on the go at once as is my habit of long standing.

Yabby makes a good point about history. I'm watching a DVD of Italy at the moment hosted by Francesco da Mosto which is so inviting and informative in a way that a book can't accomplish.

I love a good British sitcom.

Dear Poirot,

I've ordered a couple of books to add to my reading list.
One is - "Spaghetti Westerns: Cowboys and Europeans from
Karl May to Sergio Leone," by Christopher Frayling.
I'm into spaghetti westerns in a big way -
and this is a critical
exploration of the ones made at Cinecitta Studios in
Rome from various perspectives. The other book was
recommended highly by a friend - "The Righteous Mind," by
Jonathan Haidt - I'm looking forward to reading them both.

I enjoy DVDs as well. There are so many good ones on my
wish list for Mother's Day - especially British ones.
So many classics to chose from.

Well, must run - the second half of Celebrity Apprentice
is on tonight. Don't want to miss it.

Just to throw a spanner in the works, may I just advise you that many of the shows that are on the tele these days are available to watch online. This means that you can watch them at your leisure, and even though they do contain some ads, they are minimal compared to what is on the box.

I am quite happy to admit to being a box afficionado, mainly because my health doesn't allow me to partake in more physical pursuits, and one can only sit at a computer for so long without becoming even more square-eyed. I have a wide range of shows that I like to watch, but have given up on a lot of news programs since figuring out that they are NOT giving us the facts as they happened, but are trying to influence the way we think (and vote) by issuing information in a manner that exudes their opinions, and not the true state of things. The channel most guilty of this is the one that claims number one status in the free-to-air business.

Just reading through others posts again, & thinking of mine, I wonder how much our work & life patterns effect our TV watching choices.

I can remember happily vegetating in front of Top Gear, CSI, & the Dukes of Hazzard. This was when I was working very hard mentally, for long hours, & probably the last thing I wanted was to think about anything on the box.

Even then I could not stand things like Seinfeld, but when Dukes of Hazzard returned to our screens recently, I could not turn it off quickly enough. Perhaps as a retired old f4rt very light "entertainment" is no longer desirable, & I am looking for something a little more challenging/interesting, to stir the brain a little.

I would love to see a couple of old favourites from my youth, Maverick, & Have Gun Will Travel. I had these in a "not to be missed if possible" list back in the day. I wonder if, like the Dukes of Hazzard, I would find then quite poor today.

Dear Hasbeen,

My father's favourites used to be - "Cheyenne,"
"Sugarfoot," "RawHide," and "Maverick," as well as
"Gunsmoke," just to name a few.
In other words - dad loved westerns.
He worked very hard physically, and I guess he
(like you ) - needed the light relief. Dad died of
a massive coronary at the age of 52. And even today
watching a western brings a lump to my throat.

It would be interesting to see your reaction today - to some
of your favourites from the past. A remake of "Maverick"
with Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster should be available on
DVD. James Garner has a small role in the film.

Do you find as you get older, the shows you thought were hilarious when you were younger seem passe and overdone. 'Flying High' which I laughed at so much in the 70s, crying with the rest of the audience in pain (we were easily amused in the 70s) now seems slapstick and OTT.

Mind you, Yes Minister/PM is one of the best documentaries out there even today. And who can go past the Good Life.

We did not have TV until my early teens (having lived remotely for a time and then my parents restricted viewing until well into our teens) so shows like Get Smart (where people of my generation parrotted lines like 'good thinking 99'), even the occasional 'Carry On' movie. What were we thinking!?

Nowadays I watch mostly ABC, some SBS, movies and crime shows. Even the ABC has had a few shocker reality shows like that dreadful kid's bootcamp thingy. Perhaps as one ages the plethora of reality TV seems inane - but it does seem to sell. Is it lack of choice? Yesterday's Get Smart may be tomorrow's Big Brother.

What happened to good scriptwriting? Australians always had a mix of some amazingly brilliant raw stuff but also some really bloody awful stuff like Don's Party, Blazing Saddles, and some really bad weekly soaps.

However I must admit some reality shows have a perverse way of hooking you in (the manipulative blighters) and confess to watching bits of Australia's Got Talent, Idol and The Voice. Although I'm off the Voice after one airing as the format is too contrived, loud, and full of mutual back slapping from the judges. Time wasted airy-fairing about, when you could be listening to some actual singing by some amazing talent.

I watch the much maligned Q&A as it is a rare opportunity to see our political animals in the wild. Much preferable to the trend for all those new animal shows which are rarely as good as the David Attenboroughs.

PS: I am auditioning for Grumpy Old Women, thought I'd give it a whirl here.

Pelican,

I'm a huge fan of Carry On movies - I'm not sure why, but I realised how much I liked them in my early forties when I was up at night with baby, and the ABC used to play them about 4 am....

And further more, the first thing that lured me to Foxtel (apart from the news) was the thought that I could again watch I Dream of Jeanie, Bewitched, The Munsters and Top Cat.....etc, etc. All of which captivated me after school at primary age - and they're still good (which might say more about me than I'm comfortable with : )

<< …I Dream of Jeanie, Bewitched, The Munsters and Top Cat.....>>

Ahh Poirot, that’s my after primary school experience too.

The Munsters were good. I haven’t heard them mentioned much over the years. The Addams Family seemed to be much more popular. But I always liked the Munsters better.

----

This has turned out to be a very interesting thread. Thanks to all respondents.

In light of your comments, I’ll have to reassess my dwindling use of the old teev and hopefully get back into a bit of quality viewing.

I posed the question in the opening post:

< …do the good people of OLO find themselves watching less television and spending more time online these days? Or is TV as popular as ever? >

It is pretty clear that it is as popular as ever and that the amazing diversity of stuff online hasn’t usurped or diminished television at all.

But logically it must have. I mean, lots of people, like me, are be spending much of the time they used to spend watching TV online these days. So it doesn’t really compute.

Can anyone proffer an explanation?

ludwig.. there used to be statistics..that the average person watches 2 hours tv per day
[that was clearly wrong]i know at that time..i was watching tv at least 8 to 10 hours..a day

but i wouldnt tell that..to anyone..neither

people lie/distort/missdirect/but its those
who want to know..to know that

its funny i hear of shows...not doing it for people today
[and i too cant stand...so many of them absurd concepts
[i do note none of the better ones have dissappeared;/from free too air]

i miss northern exposure..and touched by anm angel
the wandering monk..and the wandering asian..[the stuf of spirit..has been gutted out of our vieuwing..'free' to air

cath/kim..is still funny
still being made..but im not seeing it anymore
but im so over the stuff still on air
mash..bewitched/gillies isl/happy daze..

the list of shows 'dead to me'..is endless
i detest cop shows murder sports and info taintment

anyhow..the truth is people dont really watch tv
its designed to put you into a hypnotic daze..thus the loud commercials to wake us up..enough till the show puts us back..to sleep

what is tv really?
a noise maker..so you dont have to listen to the wife and kids arguing which new star shines the brightest[today]

Ludwig,

Your preferred The Munsters over The Adams Family - me too!

I have to say also that I enjoy a good Agatha Christie - and particularly enjoy David Suchet playing moi. He was born for the part.

Regarding birds, of which I'm not particularly knowledgeable - I'm regularly visited by a beautiful pair of Red Capped parrots (South West WA)

I must be bad, Ludwig, this afternoon I will do both.

My computer is in the family room, & by leaning back a little, & looking a bit to the right, I can see the TV in the lounge room, from the desk.

This afternoon I will be "watching" the V8 Super car race, while at the computer. It is a technique I developed since I found sport no longer as absorbing as it used to be.

The modern replay allows me to ignore it most of the time, but after a roar from the spectators, or a raised level of excitement from the commentators, I can look up, & watch the inevitable 3 or 4 replays. This way I don't have to sit watching all the boring stuff, but still see the good bits.

This layout only happened by accident, but I'd never change it now. How many people are lucky enough to be getting square eyes from two screens at once?

Poirot
Ditto David Suchet as Poirot. Bon.

Miss Marple is kinda quaint too. The English do a good period piece too, having enjoyed Downton Abbey recently and the odd Jane Austen remake.

I never did get into Poirot, Poirot!

That character looked like a dill to me with that ridiculous moustache!!

But hey, each to his/her own.

Red-capped parrots; very nice. Only found in southwest WA. I’ve got lots of records from around Perth, the jarrah forest and across to Esperance.

----

Haz:

<< This way I don't have to sit watching all the boring stuff, but still see the good bits. >>

Haaahahaha. I couldn’t imagine a thing in the world more boring than the V8 supercars…’cept perhaps when they have a dirty great pile-up!!

Sounds like you’ve got a good setup there. ( :>)

I can't watch cricket without thinking of chicken!
Original not hot 'n spicy.

Hey, hey, Ludwig,

Well, magnificent moustaches run in my family (down the maternal line), and so do strange little men with egg-shaped heads and mincing gaits. I guess both attributes culminated in moi.

Do you remember this exchange between us way back when?
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=3301&page=0#78410

I watch very little mostly because of the hours I work. Game of Thrones for entertainment once a week, and I get the streamed online when someone uploads it. Sunday and 60 minutes used to be something I'd watch but 60 minutes lost it when Richard Carleton died. I became VERY annoyed at the weak agenda driven stories. It turned into today tonight type stuff.

Hahahahaaaa! Poirot, thanks for reminding me of that weird thread.

Aunty Jack was scary enough but your multi-moed mamma gave me nightmares!!

i for one have given up on watching tv these days too i just think that sometimes its a waste of time and i can get only the salient and important information i want to know on internet these days which is more convenient by the way becasue tv has so much extra stuff to it that you have to stay glued to really get the good stuff. i also feel that when i sit in the tv and wait for all the advertisement to finish just to be able to get my daily dose of news, i will be wasting an awful lot of time rather than doing something more productive

Skyj, welcome to OLO.

While TV still seems to have a lot going for it, the internet has surely had a huge impact on our viewing habits.

The internet is interactive, which has got to make it a whole lot more appealing, with Twitter, Facebook, OLO and all sorts of other stuff.

And of course you can google anything you want, get all the music under the sun, and TV programs and so much more.

It really is quite amazing that the old idiot box is hangin in there so well.

Miniscule, David Attenborough and that's about it except for an occasional old movie like "St Louis Blues" which I enjoyed Saturday night. Recently read Dombey and Son.

*The internet is interactive, which has got to make it a whole lot more appealing, with Twitter, Facebook, OLO and all sorts of other stuff.*

Well speak for yourself there, Ludwig. Personally I'll leave the
birds to do the tweeting :) I'm not into Facebook either, as too
much personal data is being misused.

I think its just about being more selective, choice lets us do that.
On Saturday for instance, I scanned the Ipad tv update, which makes
checking programmes so easy. There was a programme which did the
full factory tour of Porches in Germany being manufactured, so I
watched it. Wow, I found it fascinating! The technology being employed
now to make these kinds of products, is just frigging amazing.
Manufacturing is just becoming ever more specialised and automated,
with less and less physical labour involved. No wonder the Germans
are doing so well, they build machines which make things. It also
shows why the days of Australian manufacturing as it was, assembling
things with some spanners and hammers, are well and truly over.

<< Well speak for yourself there, Ludwig. >>

Not just speaking for myself, Yabby. Twitter and Facebook are huge, and that’s just the start. The internet is so enormous that you’ve got to wonder how TV has hung in there so successfully.

Sure, there is still plenty to watch on the old box and most people still do, but to a lesser extent than they used to. There surely must have been a big decline in TV viewing, but the TV stations and companies don’t seem to have suffered from it at all.

It doesn’t make sense. What am I missing here?

Yair, there is still some damn good TV viewing out there.

Watched 4 Corners and Q&A tonite.

Now THAT'S worthwhile television!

Honestly, I am convinced that personal computers will replace TV within the next 10 years. I have stopped watching tv 5 or 6 years ago, when I realized I could watch movies online and without commercial break!