to think that you're watching tv?

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If you have a square screen thing in your hand/kitchen/living room/bedroom or a tablet/laptop etc and you watch programmes made for television on it, are you watching television?

Or does it only refer to the watching of programmes broadcasted live at that moment on a piece of static equipment typically found in your living room?

Would it be odd to say that you don't watch television, but you do watch series and box sets on Netflix/Amazon Prime etc and BBC iplayer, ITVX? If I record program on a Sky+ and watch it tomorrow on my phone, is it still watching television? What about YouTube etc?

We had a bit of a 'debate' about this the other day, so

YABU - it's only called watching tv when it's live on a television

YANBU - you're watching the tv if it's a programme on a screen

(I'm leaving the watching of films on any media out of this as going to the cinema just makes things messy. This is about programmes traditionally made for television)

We watch most shows on a computer so I say 'watch/ing tv' type thing as it's easier

I think I would say this for movie as well if not on a cinema screen too I think but mainly watch shows not film

I remember someone telling me they didn’t watch tv but then continued with, ‘I watch Netflix but on a tablet’ 🫠 to me, that is still watching tv..

My daughter asks ‘can I watch tv?’ when she really means ‘can I watch a load of YouTube shorts on the laptop in bed’. 😂

It’s still watching tv in my book, it’s just funny how things have changed.

I'm watching the TV right now, but it is a download from Sky of a show from years ago.
If the TV is on, I am watching the TV regardless of where the content is from.

I watch everything on my iPad and don’t have a tv. But i don’t talk about watching tv. I might say, “Im watching Bake Off”, or ask, “Did you see Bake Off this week ? So I talk about the programme rather than the device it’s being watched on if that makes sense.

There's a Harry Enfield sketch on this! A pompous couple at a party looking down on a man asking if they have watched a TV programme:
Pulling faces 'oh! We don't watch television do we?! Oh no, load of old rubbish. Waste of time'....
Minutes later
'Have you seen the new box set? Oh it's so wonderful'.....

Was in absolute bits one Xmas when a bit pissed and my BIL and SIL did this to us. I then had to explain what was funny and I don't think it went down too well!

Would have been pre Netflix et al too.

That's exactly where this started - a 'I hardly ever watch TV' comment, fair enough, but then a few minutes later chatted about Ted Lasso, Netflix series etc etc, but then said it wasn't television because it wasn't live.

I know a few people that say this and it’s from a place of them trying to feel superior. They see tv as something that those ‘lower’ than them do, but watching on a different screen is ok.

Make it make sense! 🤪

Anyway, I enjoy ‘all the tv’ on ‘all the screens’. 🤣 Big TVs in most rooms as well as laptops, iPads and phones.

It's just slang for watching programmes isn't it ? A bit like I don't hoover ever , but I do the vacuuming .

Well, if you wanted to be strictly accurate, anything watched on a television set - be it streaming, downloaded, pre recorded or live is
"watching television (TV)"

Any other screens are not "watching TV" as the hardware used is not a television set. Even if the media consumed is a show originally made for TV.

However, I don't see the difference in the actual activity. Whatever the screen is attached to, it's all the same thing surely? There's nothing "superior" about watching your content on an iPad as opposed to a TV set. So in a real sense, yes, its ALL just "Watching TV "

If someone tells me “I don’t watch television” but I then found that they gorge on Netflix on a tablet I’d think they were barmy!!!

I'm enjoying this thread, I am feeling very justified in my opinion.

(will probably have an influx of tv deniers now!)

It doesn't matter how you consume your chips, on a big plate or a bit of newspaper, chips is chips

YANBU - I don't have a television and I don't stream anything. But I've noticed all the semantic gameplaying from people who like to claim they "don't watch tv" or don't have a television. They seem to possess in-depth knowledge of the latest Netflix must-watch. I guess they must read a lot of reviews in the Sunday papers...