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I don't watch normal TV any more just YouTube, streaming services and occasional BBC catch-up

80 replies

Shesasuperfreak · 04/02/2023 01:44

I have just realised.

And my children have grown with this. I wonder how TV will be for them in the future?

OP posts:
FuckabethFuckor · 04/02/2023 17:28

The way we watch stuff is ever-evolving though isn’t it. My mum can remember when ITV launched and the concept of adverts on telly was bizarre. BBC2 and Channel 4 both launched in her lifetime. Video recorders in the 80s (maybe 70s) — before that if you were going out and your favourite programme was on, you missed it.

I remember when Netflix was just a company that sent you a DVD in an envelope and you’d have to post it back because someone before you had spread marmite on it for a laugh.

Soubriquet · 04/02/2023 17:30

I miss sky tv sometimes but same here.

Streaming services only. Occasionally dvds.

They will never experience the Saturday morning cartoons or the after school cartoons where we would have to wait a whole week to see the next episode.

Or running in to the kitchen to grab a quick snack, and your sibling is screaming “its oooooo n” so you scramble to get back as quick as you can so you didn’t miss it.

If you did miss it, you missed it. There was no catch up

FenghuangHoyan · 04/02/2023 17:30

Yeah, can't say anyone really loves watching sport on TV here. Kids play quite a bit, but don't really want to watch it. I can't stand it personally.

Soubriquet · 04/02/2023 17:31

Floralnomad · 04/02/2023 17:15

Surely you or your kids watch live sport on the TV - that’s probably the only time I watch actual programmed TV

No. Couldn’t give two shits about sports

We didn’t watch the queens funeral and we won’t be watching the kings coronation either.

Bagzzz · 04/02/2023 17:35

I’m old fashioned and like normal tv. Watch iPlayer and nexflix as well. I like some shared experiences like Pottery Throwdown and sport like Olympics and Women’s and Men’s World Cup football. That is going now as people watch on catch-up.

I find the streaming a bit overwhelming with so much content I keep skipping around. It probably helps that I don’t have to look after children so can settle down when I want.

PAFMO · 04/02/2023 17:38

I watch about half and half, but dp still watches way more normal TV than streamed.

As long as you're not one of those people (MN used to be full of them) saying TV is terrible and we never watch TV and how only common people watch TV and then listing all the series and films they watch on the computer. Like binging a 6 hour box set is somehow superior.

I do wonder if I've got the mental memory anymore to wait a week for a new episode! I'm waiting for HV to finish, then will watch it all together.

Soubriquet · 04/02/2023 17:41

PAFMO · 04/02/2023 17:38

I watch about half and half, but dp still watches way more normal TV than streamed.

As long as you're not one of those people (MN used to be full of them) saying TV is terrible and we never watch TV and how only common people watch TV and then listing all the series and films they watch on the computer. Like binging a 6 hour box set is somehow superior.

I do wonder if I've got the mental memory anymore to wait a week for a new episode! I'm waiting for HV to finish, then will watch it all together.

Oh god yes. I literally burst out laughing when I read that.

”we don’t watch tv in this house. It’s so common and bad for your kids. We watch Netflix on the laptop”

THATS TV YOU DOLT!!

User17649787 · 04/02/2023 17:41

DH watches sports on the TV upstairs, cycling and snooker, boring stuff like that

User17649787 · 04/02/2023 17:47

I shall be sad when my Sky+HD boxes give up though as we will have to go to Sky Stream and it doesn't look as good. With the streaming one I don't think it filters out the adverts on catch up.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/02/2023 17:49

This is a huge issue for the BBC, and to a lesser extent maybe, for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. We pay the licence fee for the BBC happily as we listen to a lot of BBC radio every week and we also watch a lot of BBC TV programmes and use the BBC news website a lot as well. The wildlife programmes are worth the licence fee all by themselves, and I'd pay a sub specifically to be able to listen to The Archers (hopeless addict here).

People complain about the objectivity of the BBC, and I get that, but the BBC and the other terrestrial channels have standards and are regulated. When you get your news from them, you can have some confidence that they've verified what they're telling you. You can't have that confidence at all with a lot of other news sources.

If we didn't have access to the BBC and Channel 4, I would pay for a sub to The Times. I'd be a lot more hesitant about paying anything to The Guardian as I don't think their journalistic standards are great any more.

I worry a lot about the fact that so many people get all their news from sources that have an agenda and aren't even attempting to give an unbiased view. As far as I can make out, that's how we ended up with Brexit and Trump.

Floralnomad · 04/02/2023 17:52

User17649787 · 04/02/2023 17:47

I shall be sad when my Sky+HD boxes give up though as we will have to go to Sky Stream and it doesn't look as good. With the streaming one I don't think it filters out the adverts on catch up.

I think you can pay extra to have no adverts , not sure how it works though .

User17649787 · 04/02/2023 17:55

I like the BBC and iPlayer, I watch a lot of old series on it, I don't like the new ITV X as the app is rubbish and I can't watch it through my Sky box. I don't really like YouTube much either as that app is a bit rubbish

Farmageddon · 04/02/2023 17:57

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/02/2023 17:49

This is a huge issue for the BBC, and to a lesser extent maybe, for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. We pay the licence fee for the BBC happily as we listen to a lot of BBC radio every week and we also watch a lot of BBC TV programmes and use the BBC news website a lot as well. The wildlife programmes are worth the licence fee all by themselves, and I'd pay a sub specifically to be able to listen to The Archers (hopeless addict here).

People complain about the objectivity of the BBC, and I get that, but the BBC and the other terrestrial channels have standards and are regulated. When you get your news from them, you can have some confidence that they've verified what they're telling you. You can't have that confidence at all with a lot of other news sources.

If we didn't have access to the BBC and Channel 4, I would pay for a sub to The Times. I'd be a lot more hesitant about paying anything to The Guardian as I don't think their journalistic standards are great any more.

I worry a lot about the fact that so many people get all their news from sources that have an agenda and aren't even attempting to give an unbiased view. As far as I can make out, that's how we ended up with Brexit and Trump.

Given how ridiculously biased the BBC has been over the last few years on certain issues, you would be naive to think they are an objective news source anymore.
On the one hand you acknowledge they have issues with objectivity, but how is that any different to other channels who 'have an agenda'? Surely reading widely and making your own deductions is the best way to get the full picture...

Simulacra · 04/02/2023 17:59

You should have seen me last week, explaining my first job in Blockbuster to my 16YO.

The concept of leaving the house, driving or walking and hoping they might have something in that you feel like watching blew her mind.

Mars27 · 04/02/2023 18:00

I find it so depressing to hear people only watch YouTube/streaming services.

The output of BBC is second to none. Most of their drama series are fantastic such as Happy Valley and Line of Duty. Even things like Call the Midwife which is something that I don't watch but I recognise it has its public and is of the highest quality. CBeebies is made of pure love and educational content. I could praise every single channel and not to mention the radio channels and news. Remember during lockdown when everyone was going on the Bitesize website? I think British people really don't value the quality of state TV they have. I grew up abroad in different countries and I can honestly say that there's no other country in the world that has a state broadcaster on the same level as the BBC.

Also, people forget that the license fee is not the equivalent of a streaming service fee, it goes to fund all of the above and more, pretty much the same of paying your taxes to fund public services (because it is a public service, in fact). It's for everyone, not just you.

Zippedydoo123 · 04/02/2023 18:04

I think many people watch less live tv these days. I use a lot of catch up plus Netflix.Of late Amazon Prime too. Plus you tube is really good.

Ds is nearly 18 hardly watches tv. I think his generation just aren't into it. Though he loves Happy Valley!

Mars27 · 04/02/2023 18:04

I also rate a lot of the ITV and Channel 4 output which is a public channel as well. Terrestrial tv like a PP said is regulated, with streaming you don't have the same guarantee.

Heck, even Channel 5 is chucking out some decent dramas recently

MaybeSmaller · 04/02/2023 18:09

I'm the same and would have ditched my licence fee a few years ago if it wasn't for the occasional thing on iPlayer.

EvilRingahBitch · 04/02/2023 18:12

I still watch a lot of live telly. DH and I like to sit down and watch the quizzes on the Monday, (and Pointless or House of Games if we happen to be cooking or cleaning in the kitchen at that time of day).

He likes Final Score and Match of the Day, and whatever documentary happens to be on BBC4: for someone below the age of sixty he's remarkably resistant to the idea of switching on iPlayer/All4/Netflix rather than watching what happens to be on.

I love Strictly, and Eurovision and to a lesser extent Masked Singer and Dancing on Ice, and the occasional big drama like Line of Duty. It's the big live things that are still worth watching on broadcast TV

The DC (who are actually young adults) however don't do TV schedules at all. DC1 will get excited that the new episode of Loki or Taskmaster or whatever drops on a Wednesday, but is a stranger to the concept of "got to get home for 8pm". DC2 only watches YouTube. We have to occasionally tie him down and make him watch the classics of popular cinema in their entirety so that he can piece together where all the memes he's familiar with actually come from in context. Aliens was a particular revelation to him.

FenghuangHoyan · 04/02/2023 18:14

@Mars27 the licence fee is the equivalent of a streaming service fee imo. It goes to fund the BBC and they are a TV and radio service. If it was for everyone then it would be a tax, but thankfully it's not, as it's not an essential service. A lot of people also can't afford the licence fee. To be honest the amount they pay for their "stars" and their executives, I'll be glad when it's gone.

I also grew up abroad but spent most of my time outdoors to be honest. But back then you didn't have the options of other streaming services that could provide everything (and more) that people want. While I agree that the quality of some (not all by a long stretch) BBC programming is very good, I also think the same can be said about National Geographic / Discovery Channel, Netflix and Disney and even Amazon. The BBC has had its day and needs to change.

Personally, I think TV is going a long way towards the breakdown of modern society. I remember when it arrived in a country I lived in and how everyone changed from visiting each other and organising events to watching EastEnders. But that's another subject.

Mars27 · 04/02/2023 18:24

@FenghuangHoyan I'm afraid it absolutely is not the same as a streaming service fee. You've always had to pay the license fee even before there was the IPlayer. And you can go to court for not paying it, so it is a public duty/obligation. And the BBC has something for everyone, it is not a personal streaming service so I don't get the mentality "I don't like it, I'm not paying for it". I don't watch snooker or Homes Under the Hammer and I'm happy to pay a license fee that goes towards that. It's a community mentality, really. Even if I didn't watched or listened any of it I'd be happy to pay because I recognise it's something for everyone, not just for me

I recognise I'm in a minority here but like I said, you don't know how you've got here.

user1465390476 · 04/02/2023 18:25

I don’t understand people who rely on newspapers and the internet for their news. I know they’ll claim terrestrial TV news is ‘biased’ but it’s highly regulated.
i can’t imagine watching YouTube for my entertainment either. That would feel so random. The BBC, ITV etc try to curate decent programming and often pop up with something that takes me by surprise. I can’t imagine not having that.

Mars27 · 04/02/2023 18:27

"Even if I didn't watched or listened"

Even if I didn't watch or listen, stupid autocorrect, lol!

User17649787 · 04/02/2023 18:32

A lot of people still watch the programmes on BBC, ITV, etc, you only have to look how long the threads are on here for some of them.

Luredbyapomegranate · 04/02/2023 18:35

No one does, other than some over 60s.

I still watch a lot of BBC (docs, news, natural history, some drama, BBC 6 music, Radio 4 and some radio 2, plus lots of the website) so still pay the license fee.