STUDY SHOWS BRITISH VIEWERS ARE DEPENDENT ON TV

A RADIO Times study of the nation’s attitudes to television suggests British viewers are becoming increasingly dependent on their sets – but may feel uncomfortable admitting so.
54 per cent of the population - around 26 million people - would be lonely without their television, even though 67 per cent claim there is often nothing worth watching.
While there is widespread concern about the effect programmes have on children, two-thirds of parents still use TV as a babysitter, and nearly half of adults with seven- to ten-year-olds have a set in a child’s bedroom.
Despite 40 per cent of homes leaving their TVs on for at least six hours a day, only 12 per cent of viewers admit they watch as much. And although reality TV and soaps are considered to be among the least important subjects on TV, viewing figures state the population still spends the most hours watching these shows.
Nigel Horne, Editor of Radio Times, said: "It’s intriguing that our study is riddled with contradictions. We don’t like to be without our TV, and yet we’re loath to admit that. We say our sets are on for hours each day but claim to watch far less. The Radio Times View of the Nation Survey offers a fascinating insight into our guilty love affair with TV." (CD)