I almost never watch traditional tv anymore! I have very few shows I care enough to follow and, those that i do, I catch online mostly instead of trying to stick to the televised schedule.

It’s funny how the things we value change. Not too long ago, it was about having the biggest screen, surround sound… the home theatre experience. But now the convenience takes priority. But even as the cable services catch up and start providing on-demand content and filters (like the pvr), i still stick to the computer. And it has turned what used to be a social time into a more solitary one.

I wonder if it will come full circle and we will come back to valuing the quality of the experience over the convenience and slightly egocentric quality of the virtual world?

Yup, I’m still watching. I actually think I watch too much TV…too many series that I can barely keep up with. (I tape everything so that I can fast-forward through all the commercials. Saves a lot of time).
I did watch much less TV during the recent writer’s strike in the U.S. (because nothing was on!) and noticed that I didn’t miss TV nearly as much as I thought I would.

I’ve moved on from sitting down at the scheduled time for a show, and have started using the DVR to catch anything that I want to see. It’s been quite liberating actually. I’m no longer a slave to television schedules, I can watch the shows I want when I want. Even commercials are a thing of the past with the fast forward option.

I haven’t quite made the jump to watching on the web, but I’m starting to find the shows I want and some stations are even pushing the boundaries by supplying full episodes via BitTorrent - CBC is a great example of this.

Still watching, most of what I watch however is from TVO or PBS/WNED. Both are public funded stations that offer content sans commercials. Others I try to tape and fast-forward the ads. Believe it of not there are still great things on TV, excellent documentaries, political satires, plus of course a couple guilty pleasures (long live North of 60). You do have to know what you’re looking for though. I think I use the public broadcast stations as my own “filters”.

While I have found myself spending more time on the net of late I still can’t get over sitting so close to a screen for too long. For those of us who are on the computer all day for work (not to mention RSIs) it’s a little too much. All respect to those who can cut the cord. There are far better things to be doing, but I’ll keep my basic cable and toss a couple dollars to those stations that still make it work watching.

A good experiment everyone should try at least once is TV Turn Off Week (yes it needs to be a full week). A few different organizations put them together, Ad Busters used to run one during season finally week, but you can do it anytime you want. Some promote being fully unplugged for the whole week. That includes you and your laptop David. The premise is to find other activities to participate in encouraging physical health, interpersonal relationships and/or community involvement. This can be especially important for children, but we adults can learn a lot too.

I don’t watch television much at all anymore and frankly, I get hostile thinking about how much companies charge for cable. Every year when the bill comes around I seriously sit and try to figure out why I bother. Perhaps I won’t this year.

Television, to me, means tons of re-runs, duplicate shows on several channels, more commercials, longer infomercials and just irritating programs. If I watch anything, it’s usually in the winter when I can’t be out like I want to be and it’s usually something on the discovery channel, food network, pbs or news channels.

I see the future as pay per view, where we have places on the web that list available programs (from all around the world)and we can choose what we want, pay for it and then watch it when and where we want. I see computers taking over completely as we wire our hard drives to larger monitors, hang them on the walls and watch them instead of tv.

I’m still an avid television viewer, however, as each year goes by I find myself watching less traditional TV (scheduled programming) and more time shifted, on-demand programming.

Viewing long form programming on the internet is not for me, at least for now. The net is not ready to deliver the high quality programming I’m used to watching. Plus, I can’t get used to viewing my favorite shows on a computer screen or laptop.

What I’m waiting for is an internet that’s fast enough to deliver on demand, high quality, HD programming right into my internet ready, 60″ plasma that I can enjoy from the comfort of my sofa.

I’m sure I won’t have to wait very long.

im part of the statistics! for myself i had the choice between tv or high speed internet. so i realized when i make that choice. You can find everything online now, and just going through cbc achieves is more interesting than any tv show to me. still some stuff im watching, like the news or french stuff i cant find anywhere else. but yeah, the tv is boring to me, i love to choose when and what to watch. to get my curiousity further than 30 minute show about something. be able to find all the info i can online.

i come from the middle of nowhere and cable tv became available to us only with satellites technologies, which means 1999-2000. i never was a big tv watcher. the internet became an addiction very quickly to me, i just stopped watching tv, almost naturally as i never did really.

NOPE! TV is so full of garbage.. I don’t really understand paying for it.. I enjoy going out and experiencing life rather then watching some other people live it more(or less)exciting on tv. How does it make sense to do that? I watch movies and shows on my computer on occassion(well I hook my laptop up to my tv and watch it on there) But I would never pay to have 300 channels… crazy! 300 channels? 150 with the same thing on them at the same time? AHhhhh it makes me a bit crazy to think of all that ….and all of the crappy advertising that you can’t get out of your head!!!!!!!! “hand in my pocket, hand in my pocket, hand in my pocket”
*sigh*

i hardly watch tv but when i do i watch reality shows like “hogan knows best” and “scott baio…” cnn and larry king are my bedtime shows…other than those, i am mostly on my mac or pc surfing stuff and doing graphics….

wow, wonders of the web…i still love high def surround sound though…the essence of a movie theatre…all those stuff

the web is the key to the modern world…

I know a lot of people say “it’s depressing”, but I watch a lot of news. Hell, I even LIKE the news. I’d rather know than not to know. But I guess I could always look up the news on the internet.

do you think it’s better for kids to be addicted to the internet or addicted to TV?
With TV there’s an actual schedule, so kids could go outside if nothing is on. But with the internet there is a constant flow of whatever the hell you’re looking for!

I hardly watch t.v. anymore. The only thing Ill sometimes watch are sports (hockey playoffs) and Scrubs….those are the only things Ill watch on t.v., otherwise Im on the computer doing other things…

That happened to me too.
I like how I don’t watch TV anymore, but I don’t like this culture of “I want what I want when I want it” (even though I do). =P

It reminds me of the death of radio. Remember when CD’s were few and far between? Everybody was using their tape recorders? And you’d wait…and wait..until that ONE perfect song came on the radio. and you’d soak it in and relish that song for all that it was worth. And it was worth a lot because back then you appreciated that you couldn’t listen to this song just anytime you wanted. You could record it on a tape, but tape quality was so poor that it didn’t replace the radio.

I hate the mp3 player and I hate the Ipod. instant gratification is the death of that awesome feeling you got when you FINALLY heard that ONE song that made listening to the radio worth while.

(and yes, moist’s “push” was one of those songs.
and the same goes for the music video, most notable Micheal Jackson’s Thriller, and other epic videos that made you run home from school to watch the “premier”).

Not that much since that computer entered in my home and in my life…a got to say…

And it’s pernicious the way it happened. If I got time, few minutes I run to see if you wrote something else!!!HaHa!

But I got to say that I’m still watching my Dear National Geographic..to full my brain. maybe my computer and me it’s just like a new love story…with the time…

Lalou

It’s funny but ever since we got our DVR, i’ve never looked back. I’m addicted to both the web and my dvr
I like what Matt wrote above though…. being able to watch what you want when you want it is the best, and without commercials!!

I haven’t had TV for a long time. I never miss it. Still, whenever I’m somewhere television’s available (like at Christmas time, visiting the folks) - I’m utterly hypnotized. You know those shows about how products are made? Or the ones about medical mysteries? They’re like crack - and one of the many reasons I canceled my own cable service.

Now I get my TV on DVD (Netflix). The time I get to spend relaxing in front of the thing is so limited - I want to be watching something worthwhile. Also, I’d rather get my news online where I can go straight to the stories that interest me (and research them more in depth) without sitting through all the crap and commercials.

I still watch television regularly, several time a week. Personally, my internet is extremely slow, and I simply don’t have ten hours to wait for a show I want to watch to download fully.

The television is also a social event for us. Often we will get together to all watch Doctor Who, or whichever. These shows provide an excuse to see friends when we have nothing better to do.

im still watching TV but more time goes, less i watch tv.. My boyfriend and i rent series like : Heroes , 24 , Lost ect.. at our videoclub. Before, i was a lot on front of my tv.. maybe 4-5 hours a day. Now only maybe 1 - 1h30 hour a day ! Im more on the net now. im so addicted. And i don’t have time anymore to watch 4 hours\day tv And i dont watch Daily News. its always bad news so… stoppoed watch it since couples of years… but i watch it just to see if The Canadiens won the games! ;).

David,
You sure know how to bring out the guilt complex in me. I’ll shamefully admit…I’m a T.V. lover. I watch The View every morning if there are interesting topics, CNN, American and Canadian Idol faithfully, The Hills and shows like Nanny 911 or my new favorite, John and Kate plus Eight. I love documentaries, crime shows and The Discovery Channel. Larry King Live and shows like Tavis Smiley or Charlie Rose. Bill Maher (SP) I miss you ! Finally, I watch my dvd’s of Friends or Sex And The City.
My computers are too slow to watch anything for long periods of time. I’d rather be cozy in my lazyboy! However, I try to balance my day with a little of everything. Radio, t.v., reading, writing, computer, work, housework, playtime, exercise, and playing piano. I miss the days of reading to my children and playing games or taking them to outings to the library. (And I couldn’t wait for them to go to school). Now that they are in school full time, I find myself twiddling my thumbs a lot, sighing heavily and try to keep myself busy during the day. The clock ticks loudly, so to drown out the silence the radio or t.v. is usually on. Lately, though, I find myself turning the T.v. off more and more since most of it is irritating and mindless. There are also too many commercials that waste my time, so I do alot of channel flipping (ADD) LOL.

I find myself watching more T.V. in the winter when it is too unbearable to go outside. Spring is great because we can go bike-riding as a family or play outdoors more. I hate straight exercise! I’d rather be doing something physical like rollerblading or setting up an obstacle course and circuit train with my kids. It’s more fun that way.

Kids in general spend too much time on the computer or watching television. We have to set a good example if we want them to follow suit. What kids want more than anything is our attention (which all of us parents are well aware of). We can do that in a healthy way. Turn off the computer, turn off the T.V. and go outside and do something fun. After that, play a computer game together or do research together for a school project. I believe balance is the key and too much of one thing can never be good!

Except love XO

P.s.
What about the reality show revolution? Does it make you feel good or bad? Does watching people making fools of themselves have entertainment value? Can we learn about ourselves by watching them or do they block our own creativity?

it all depends by what you mean by cutting the cords, though the filter I understand quite well.

technology and all of its aspects, its exponential growth, benefits, and wonders are overwhelming. i cannot blame people if they get caught in the wild current of the expansion of technology. but, for me, technology can’t be entirely blamed of the situation at hand. i believe that the apparent death of books, television, and intellectual property rights (and not to mention real life socialization…)in this matter i also partly caused by people. looking for the easy way in and out is provided by technology.

David, when you ask if we are still watching TV do you mean just Television shows or do you also mean popping a dvd in and watching movies as well? My husband and I use our television more to watch movies that we buy/rent than we do to watch television programing. I still prefer to watch a show or a movie on the television than on the computer, especially now with HD technology. Watching a series such as Planet Earth on the computer doesn’t have the same effect as watching it on an HD TV. However, I do find myself watching less and less television every year, but not because I watch things on the computer, it’s because my life is so busy and active that I just don’t have much time to actually sit and watch anything.

I’m still watching TV (HD TV). I like to watch movies and my series on a big screen. I also like news and weather channel (believe or not) LOL. I also spend lots of time on the computer. I could say I spend less time watching TV after I had discovered internet for sure but nothing is more comfortable to lay down on the sofa and watch a nice program on the big screen.

I miss the times when television ruled over the internet. I always found there to be a certain something about watching shows on TV, a unity of sorts. When you watch television, you know that there are other people in the world watching the exact same thing you are and in some weird way I find that comforting… I don’t know, maybe thats weird…
This was true for me much more as a child, mainly when I was watching TGIF. It just felt nice. Watching shows online, which I do quite often, doesn’t really do it for me.
Also, as much as I like watching a series one after the other and without commercials, I really do appreciate the television format. This way, you know your watching it the way the creators intended, with all the appropriate commercial break, weekly episode, and season cliffhangers. I like having it to look forward to in the future and to talk about with other fans, but when you watch things online, I find it just feels very lonely…
These days, I really only watch Lost and a few random other shows, definitely not as much as I used to. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m growing up, or because of the internet, or very likely because television shows are changing and I’m not on board with what it’s become. I feel like it’s probably a combination of the three…

Like most who have posted, I do not watch television nearly as often as I used to. While I am proud of this feat, I’m still concerned by the amount of time I spend staring at a screen… even if its a computer screen as opposed to a television. I find it interesting that we are always proud of detatching ourselves from some form of technology, but we readily replace it with another.

Some friends and I have started trying to track our time online. For instance, we’re attempting to limit email checks to no more than two or three times a day. Needless to say, we don’t currently have professions which obligate us to open our inboxes as frequently as our habits require. We find that we’re getting sucked into this compulsion of checking email and facebook every twenty minutes just for the sake of killing time. We’ve become accustomed to doing these things as mindlessly as we used to watch television.

I think its important to find out what the specific benefits are to using technology deliberately as opposed to mindlessly. If there is something good to be said about “cutting the cord” than how can we apply this to other areas of life? I’m not sure that replacing television with internet is *necessarily* progress. Depends on the benefits. What is it we’re trying to accomplish through these changes?

TV vs WWW, who will win? I can agree that the web is a strong competitor! The TV has dropped out of my life as well, but I’m not captured by the web totally, probably the one cause - no unlimited access to it still and I don’t miss my 59 channels (only “Travel”) for me TV is the same rarity like a family-together-dinner on holidays. Moreover, today on my homeland isn’t better time for mass media. So it’s a trend!

I’m the same, I would rather go a date with Tammy Fae Baker than watch TV. It’s so hopelessly shallow and boring. Let’s take an example: ‘The Learning Channel’. My kids are going to grow up know a lot about restoring houses and nothing else!

Steve

Nope…I’ve cut the cable…too much time spent watching terrible reality TV instead of actually being in reality!

I guess I never really had that problem of watching TV. I grew up in a household where my mom prevented us from watching tv unless we finished our homeworks, by which time it’s too late anyway. When we got older, my sister and dad controlled the remote control, so I didn’t get to watch TV. Then, as I finally got to be on my own, I resented the fact that my then boyfriend was glued to the tube instead of me, so I hated TV. And when I did watch, everything seemed so ‘blah’ to me, nothing of substance. It’s all just pop culture, mainstream propaganda, that it turns me off, and I never really turn tv on unless it’s for socializing.

Then, I got pregnant and TV seemed to be the only thing I could do, so I finally subscribed to cable tv for the first time in my adult life (even so, just basic cable) and watched it somewhat regularly, but now, I only turn it on if I’m tired from taking care of my baby and needs her to be distracted for an hour so I can get a break.

Anyway, I’m also addicted to the internet though. It is so much more interesting with the content they provide, because it’s all over the globe, and I can select and search for what I want to read or watch, instead of having to settle for what’s offered to me on the tube. It’s also a lot more interactive with the whole social media stuff.

I’m glad you wrote of this. I think it’s becoming the new culture of our generation.

Still love my TV as well. Also, I’m a huge sports fan and sports is one of the last live entertainment programs you can watch on TV and really, nothing beats live programming, just like watching or going to a live concert. That being said, more sports leagues are streaming their games on the web which is interesting.

But I agree that the web does allow for more creativity than TV. However, after a day at work where I’m on the computer a lot, I want to chill and not work my brain, TV fits the bill nicely I must say.

I cut the chord a couple of years ago now I think. Occasionally I wish I could watch something on PBS or TVO or Bravo, but most of the time I’m grateful for the extra time!

Something I notice is that I spend too much time online now. I was headed that way anyway, but it has increased with the decrease in television. So finding the balance there is a work in progress.

There is no way I could juggle 3-ish careers if I were watching TV: I’m a working, exhibiting artist, a part-time student, a part-time graphic designer and a part-time art teacher. My husband is in a similar position. We sometimes run out of food because we haven’t had time to shop, so where is there time for TV?

I actually don’t bother with tv anymore. We do have however a family nite of watching Survivor. Other than that…….reading, working on the computer or taking alot of amazing nature walks. TV I believe can fry the brain. Its too much brainwashing.

i’m not listening alot of television. don’t even have cable at home. why would i pay for something that i don’t even listen at. television, is king of the same thing as Internet, when you start to check out about some stuff particularly. you’ve come obsess of it. well, i’m like that.

I followed a few TV series, the ones that are really good. But I stop watching live TV many years ago. I record everything on a Media Center now. I got the freedom to watch the shows if and when it fits my schedule. I cannot experience the classic TV model distribution anymore. I record the shows I like so I get the control of what I see - I can skip, stop and rewind at will. TV does not take too much of my time.