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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be surprised that anyone watches terrestrial TV anymore?

161 replies

MaMaLa321 · 01/12/2020 21:49

If I'm watching TV, I go straight to Netflix, as there doesn't seem to be much on terrestrial that isn't a) stupid or b) depressing. Is it just me that does this?

OP posts:
Qpobb · 02/12/2020 09:47

I don't have terrestrial.

I use Netflix, All4, BBC iPlayer, ITV player, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

Everything that is aired on terrestrial that I have a pandering to watch is covered by the list above.

I still pay my TV license though!

Twobrews · 02/12/2020 09:53

What are you watching on Netflix OP?

We ditched sky when we moved and got Netflix, we already had Prime. There's a few good things on each but I wouldn't want to only have either without the iPlayer and C4 apps too

I hate trawling through the various apps trying to find something to watch. Especially with DH it involves twenty minutes of no-ing before one of us gives up and goes to bed. Also I get annoyed with being able to watch whole series at once, it's too easy to waste hours when the next episode starts seconds after the previous one.

Twobrews · 02/12/2020 09:59

I don't have terrestrial.

I use Netflix, All4, BBC iPlayer, ITV player, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

Everything that is aired on terrestrial that I have a pandering to watch is covered by the list above.

I still pay my TV license though!

I forgot we have Disney plus too, that novelty has worn off.
Certainly still pay my TV license because above everything else I listen to the radio. It's worth paying for.

Brainwave89 · 02/12/2020 10:00

Its funny but the lockdown has pushed me this way. I have really got into Netflix and Amazon Prime. There are some great drama series on each- Virgin River on Amazon is a favourite and Bosch on Amazon prime is a must. I still watch the news on the BBC, but I have been surprised that the quality of production is now much improved on streaming channels.

trappedsincesundaymorn · 02/12/2020 10:13

I only watch terrestrial t.v. I don't watch much telly (none at all on weekends), so it would be money down the drain if I were to pay for anything more.

satnighttakeaway · 02/12/2020 10:23

Certainly still pay my TV license because above everything else I listen to the radio. It's worth paying for

Obviously you need the licence for iPlayer but just so you know, if you ever stop watching that you don't need to have one for radio only

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 02/12/2020 10:38

@staydazzling

good grief theres some bitches on here, shes only asked a question! i hardly watch live tv now only odd times, mainly netflix, im. surprised they aren't trying harder to produce better content.
Socks

She hasn't 'just asked a question'. She's been rude & sneery and made stupid statements.

Twobrews · 02/12/2020 10:39

Obviously you need the licence for iPlayer but just so you know, if you ever stop watching that you don't need to have one for radio only

@satnighttakeaway
Thanks, what I meant was the license fee goes in part towards the radio content rather than being required in order to listen to IYSWIM Smile

Zilla1 · 02/12/2020 11:19

Witches, yes. If staydazzling thinks "there doesn't seem to be much on terrestrial that isn't a) stupid or b) depressing." is 'only a question' then I wonder what they think a loaded question would be?

Has the OP replied yet and said what they watch on Netflix that is superior to UK terrestrial (or are they just a Netflix-promoting bot)?

Ilovemycat13 · 02/12/2020 11:22

We only have freeview and use channel 4od and bbc I player. We can’t really afford any extras tbh.

LightasaBreeze · 02/12/2020 11:26

Anyone that has BT broadband you can get 6 months free BritBox with them, both new and existing customers.

Lockheart · 02/12/2020 11:35

I only watch terrestrial TV when I visit my parents really, or if there's rugby on. Almost none of it has any appeal now.

BBC One released it's Christmas and New Year schedule and of all the programs on there's only one which has any appeal for me.

We will be watching a lot of Disney+ and Netflix films I think.

rc22 · 02/12/2020 11:43

We watch some stuff on terrestrial pretty much as it goes out - Strictly, Coronation Street, Pointless if we're home from work on time. DH still likes to watch either the 6 o'clock or 10 o'clock news on the BBC too. I tend to pick news up from the internet now rather than watching TV news although I do watch BBC Breakfast or GMB for 20 minutes or so while I eat breakfast in the morning. Apart from that, we either sky plus stuff on terrestrial or stream it or watch Netflix. Tempted to get Amazon Prime but feel as though I hardly get time to watch everything I spot on Netflix and fancy watching so no idea how I would keep up with another streaming service!!

Lockheart · 02/12/2020 11:44

And yes, there is a LOT of shite on Netflix et al. too, but the key difference is I can ignore the shite and don't have to wait for it to finish before I can watch something good.

The problem with terrestrial is you have to watch this thing at this time and if we've put the film you want to watch on at midnight so it doesn't finish until 2.30 in the morning (once you've accounted for adverts) then that's tough.

Or I could just watch the film at a convenient time with no adverts on a streaming service.

Twobrews · 02/12/2020 11:55

The problem with terrestrial is you have to watch this thing at this time and if we've put the film you want to watch on at midnight so it doesn't finish until 2.30 in the morning (once you've accounted for adverts) then that's tough.
That's what I miss. There's too much choice now unless you know exactly what you want to watch, I can't bear the click click click as you scroll through peppered by trailers that you've seen a thousand times, then exit that app to go on a different one and repeat.
With terrestrial it was "right it's 9:00 there's A,B,C or D on" and you were done. There's been evenings where we've spent so long looking for a mutually agreeable programme or film it's been too late to watch it to the end!

Lockheart · 02/12/2020 12:01

There's been evenings where we've spent so long looking for a mutually agreeable programme or film it's been too late to watch it to the end!

This is where you and I differ - I don't see that as a good thing.

OneForMeToo · 02/12/2020 12:04

I don’t even pay tv licence as we only watch Netflix and prime never live tv or a actual channel.

thegcatsmother · 02/12/2020 12:04

I love University Challenge, and Nigella is worth a watch as well. Some of the stuff I used to watch on terrestrial TV is on Prime.

The only reason we have a Firestick is because some work was done on the house prior to moving back from abroad, and the arial cable from the loft to the ground floor was removed. Was cheaper and easier to use a Firestick than have new cables put in.

Norwegianwater · 02/12/2020 12:25

I haven't had watched live TV or had the licence for years now. I use Netflix, prime, other on demand services and dvds etc.

Spidey66 · 02/12/2020 12:29

It's just you.

Calmandmeasured1 · 02/12/2020 12:30

I don't watch much on terrestrial TV although I do binge watch whole series on catch up TV like Line of Duty and Spooks.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 02/12/2020 12:31

With terrestrial it was "right it's 9:00 there's A,B,C or D on" and you were done. There's been evenings where we've spent so long looking for a mutually agreeable programme or film it's been too late to watch it to the end!

Yup! And even worse is when you finally agree on something and 20 minutel later realise it's shit and you will never get that time back and so now you are both not happy😂
Happens way too often on netflix and prime to us.

WitchesSpelleas · 02/12/2020 12:37

And even worse is when you finally agree on something and 20 minutel later realise it's shit and you will never get that time back and so now you are both not happy

But can't that happen with programmes on Netflix too?

SchrodingersImmigrant · 02/12/2020 12:40

@WitchesSpelleas

And even worse is when you finally agree on something and 20 minutel later realise it's shit and you will never get that time back and so now you are both not happy

But can't that happen with programmes on Netflix too?

Sorry. That actually does happen on Netflix. That was a Netflix/prime moan
WitchesSpelleas · 02/12/2020 12:42

Sorry, Schrodingers, I misunderstood your post.