How many of you no longer watch TV?

[Peak_Oil]

"TV usage is no longer passive. Younger viewers are not doing what they are told," said Charles Hirchhorn, the founder and chief executive of G4, a Comcast Corp.-owned cable channel devoted to video games. Instead, if they like a program and their friends are talking about it, they will watch it. But if they miss a show, they can watch it later in the year when the DVD is released.

"This is clearly a massive shift in how people are using their televisions," Hirchhorn said. "It's an interesting evolution."

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_RelishArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031772473245&path=!news!entertainment!television&s=1037645508994

Personally, I turned the TV off about ten years ago. I'm so happy I did... it turns out the Internet is much more interesting than the Lakers game.

I didn't like the completely artificial feel of TV either.

[heidiho]

1. No TV - Air America All Day Baby and I'm a Happier Camper

When I'm home, I have Air America streaming all day every day.

My mood of 1000 percent better. I feel like I was behind the Iron Curtain and AAR is Radio Free Europe.

It's so nice not having to watch the fake news and to hear the real news.

[Nadienne]

2. I watch:

Now with Bill Moyers, and StarGate, and that is it.

[loftycity]

8. I with Nadienne: Moyers, Frontline and Stargate that is it for TV.

[xxqqqzme]

41. the 2 U said

plus Jon. the only 'network program I watch is West Wing. It is the only democratic administration I have.

Recently, I have been making a point of watching Tavis Smiley on PBS. He needs to Xpand his program - 12 mintues 4 some of his interviews is way 2 short. His interview last night w/ James Garner was great. Garner's distaste 4 squatter 'n steroid boy was telling. Garner revealed last night the rethugs wanted him 2 run 4 the senate. He said - 'Don't they know I'm a democrat?' Yes,..... but that was beside the point, they just wanted a warm body who could win.

[Nadienne]

54. James Garner is a Democrat?

The James Garner from "Murphy's Romance" who sneers (with what I thought was sincerity) about "bleeding heart liberals"...

(It was the first time I had ever heard that phrase; I was young.)

He's a Democrat???

Very interesting...

[Champ]

3. I don't watch much anymore

If I do it's to see a sports game I want to see, don't like much of the shows on tv. Comedy Central still is pretty good to watch for me. But I just don't find it very entertaining anymore :shrug:

[Mandate My Ass]

4. I never watch the news anymore (network or cable)

I watch some cable series but no networks. I tried it as a temporary measure and when I went back I found I couldn't stand the obvious bias, poor quality of writing, "reality" shows that were somehow mind-numbing and repulsive at the same time.

[htuttle]

5. I mostly only watch History/Science type shows now

Ask me a question about ancient Egypt -- I know all about ancient Egypt...

TV News-wise, I stick to 1/2 hour BBC, 1/2 hour CBS/ABC, then 1 hour Democracy Now every day.

[Ripley]

21. Where is the Book of The Dead buried?

PM me the map k?

[htuttle]

22. A mostly complete text was found on the walls of the tombs...

...of Amenophis II, at the east end of the Valley of the Kings (site designated KV 35), and also on the walls of the tomb of Tuthmosis III (site KV 34), also in the east Valley of the Kings.

Of course, there's also the Papyrus of Ani, which is also an apparently complete text, but I'm not sure where they found that one...

:)

[Ripley]

48. Why thank you!

You really do spend too much time watching the History channel...

;)

[htuttle]

50. Someday, I aspire to actually meet Zahi Hawass in person

He's my favorite archeologist!

:)

[phatkatt]

6. I can hardly stand to be in the same room with a TV

A television on in a restaurant is one of my pet peeves! Especially when it is loud enough to interfere with actual conversation. If you want to watch TV, EAT AT HOME!!!!!!!

Television has destroyed the art of conversation.

[porphyrian]

7. I stopped after the 2000 election, for the most part.

Now, I'll catch a random show here and there, but most of my free time is spent online instead. TV isn't interactive enough for me, usually, and if I want to be lied to, I'll pay her for it.

[el_gato]

9. gave it up 2 years ago

[mstrsplinter326]

10. Why watch TV when you have the internet...

[venus]

11. I cut back drastically after the 2000 selection, now hardly any

except for an occasional PBS. I'm really depressed c-span has gone to the dogs, so I can't wach that anymore. All the have on are Repugs these days.

[SmokingJacket]

12. Not for years now... and now I've quit NPR too.

There's plenty of fun stuff on TV, I love those travel and history and true crime shows, but life's too short and cable too pricey.

And has anyone else found that the spark has completely gone out of NPR? Now I get all my news from the Internet and the morning papers.

[luaneryder]

13. I don't have TV

reception where I have lived for over 2 years. When I visit my daughter I turn to the news and am stunned at how they suck at the Bush/Cheney teat. It's nauseating! I get all my news via internet. I refuse to pay for brainwashing!

[Jim__]

14. I don't have it now

Over the last 18 months, I've had TV for about 4 of them. I miss certain shows, BookTalk on CSPAN2, some political talk shows. The problem I have is, to watch the shows I like, I need cable; and I don't want to spend the money.

Without TV though, I do find myself doing more productive things.

[supernova]

15. Mostly watch a few hours of PBS

a week in the evenings. I don't watch at all during the day. Masterpiece Theatre, Live from Lincoln Center, Nova. I'll watch most scientific/history, and how-to type shows too.

As for reality, I like the Extreme Makeovers, esp Home Edition.

I do watch much less programming in general. The up side is my DVD collection is ever growing. :7

I find I prefer movies to programming anymore because I don't have to listen to commercials. There's a definite limit to how much I care to be sold to. And I don't care who's doing the selling.

[doni_georgia]

16. Don't watch much TV at all

We only have one TV in the house,and usually we use it for DVDs. I do watch the news if there's a big story breaking. Sometimes I watch the talking heads on Sunday mornings. I do usually catch Democracy Now on FSTV about once a week. And I sometimes will watch Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Last night, though I watched TV - normal TV. I watched Extreme Makeover, then I watched Sex in the City (first time I had ever seen either of these shows). I could not imagine myself sitting in front of the tube every night like the majority of America. What I really don't get are the folks who watch soaps all day - ugh - that's really mind numbing.

[dr.strangelove]

17. I LOVE TV!!!

Monday-Wednesday I work pretty late hours (I'm a NY attorney in a big firm with lots of billable hours to pile up).
Thursday is my entertainment night and I love Survivor and CSI (have not watched CSI Miami though).
Friday and Saturday night me and my wife usually go out or have friends over.
Saturday morning I watch mostly home shows and get ideas for Saturday afternoon projects (I'm putting in an old stone retaining wall now).
I watch the Simpsons every Sunday evening. It is my way of satisfying the commandment for keeping holy the sabbath.

Weeknights I try to watch the West Wing re-runs and Inside the Actors Studio, but I often miss them. I also try to catch Howard Stern's E! show on those rare nights when I am still awake at 11:00 pm.

I love baseball and College football and try to catch a few games during the right season.

Lately I watch a lot of BBC American for "The Office" and Python reruns.

TV can be fun, if you look around for what entertains you. I recently bought the first four seasons of MASH on dvd. Those will help me when nothing is good on TV.

[progressivebydesign]

39. I forgot about BBC. I like BBC! N/T

[ithacan]

18. no tv for many years now

and I am VERY happy about it.

I feel like I miss absolutely nothing.

I get enough of a sense of the right wing propaganda from postings here.

And my kids are definitely MUCH better off for growing up in a tv-free household.

I strongly recommend it to everyone, especially those with kids.

[vivalarev]

19. discovery times & bbc

the only 2 channels worth watching anymore. and to be honest, i only like discovery times for a good laugh. they had a documentary on the national guard in alabama i believe when they just got called to go into iraq. they didnt even know who they were going to fight!!! one idiot was screaming about going into iraq and killing the taliban. it was kind of scary how stupid these people were

[bleedingheart]

20. Our household has 1 TV that is rarely used

we work all day...we want time with our kids where they are not glued to the TV.

While I enjoy a good movie once in a while...I would rather garden outside and enjoy mother nature.

[Beam Me Up]

23. TV Programming SUCKS. I refuse to watch or pay for cable/satelite

I'm very happy doing my own thing on-line. I do rent DVDs which I project (9x12 feet). Haven't watched TV in YEARS and don't miss it one bit.

[Warren DeMontague]

24. Panoplic Parade of Poop

Can't watch it at all, mostly. Certainly not anything that passes for "Programming" on any of the major networks. If it's even on in the background I can feel my brain cells atrophying and dying.. I'm with the pirate- Science, Discovery Channel, The History Channel occassionally as well. ("The Men Who Killed JFK"- outstanding) I used to be more into certain cable news channels, but they've all become such outrageous shills for the corporate right-wing lie machine that I can't watch any of them much, anymore, without getting WAY too pissed off.

[starroute]

25. The only thing I watch regularly is The Daily Show

Beside that, if I need to just plop for a few minutes, I'll flip around and find something that doesn't remind me too much of the current corruption of American culture -- which usually turns out to be Animal Planet.

But there's almost nothing I actively want to watch. There don't even seem to be many good science and technology shows any more.

My husband and son both still watch more than I do, so we're not about to ditch the cable. But I swear that if they push through this all-digital thing in 2006, I will be very reluctant to upgrade.

[LWolf]

26. very little

I watch a couple of hours of tv a month. Usually some kind of mindless entertainment. NEVER any news or "talk" shows. The last tv I watched was Sunday night...I watched "The Dead Zone." An interesting political storyline going on there, with the crooked candidate in bed with the embezzlers, heading for world destruction. Before that? Law & Order reruns the week before while I was doing paperwork. Before that, the Belmont.

I have not watched television news since March 2001, when I became independent again. Except for the ten minutes I watched on 9/11, at my sons' insistence.

[Samurai_Writer]

27. TV Free for 2 years and 4 months

Even before that, I rarely watched it, except for movies, Discovery, PBS, and A&E. I don't play video games, but I do play online, text-based, interactive RPG games (MU*s). I get all my news from internet news sources, and listen to launchcast radio for music. Who needs TV? I love movies, and that is the only thing I use my TV for now -- to watch DVDs.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

28. Does anyone watch "Link" ?

I don't know how available it is, but I discovered it on my new "small dish" (I live in a rural area) Dish Network. Channel 9410.
Incredible programming. It makes PBS look like Rush Limbaugh. Superb documentaries from around the world with a decidedly leftist tilt. Check it out if you can get it.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

53. The whole name of that channel is World Link TV

and it is AWESOME. You will see things on that channel you cannot see anywhere else in America. I'm amazed we even get it. There is a program called "Mosaic" that shows clips from news broadcasts all over the Middle East (either done in English or dubbed in) and it is fascinating what a different point of view will tell you.

If only I could get some of my more freeperier friends to tune in to it. They'd raise their eyebrows and wonder why our news never says a peep about that stuff. They even cover stuff BBC World News won't touch.

It's fascinating, I agree.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

58. I'm just trying to turn my liberal friends on to it.

I watch "Mosaic" regularly.

Link, or "World Link", is really representative of what free speech broadcasting should be.

I consider myself well-read and aware, but I've learned a lot since I discovered it.

Glad to know someone else has discovered it.

[Zhade]

59. I watch WL at work and am a contributor.

Awesome channel. Mosaic is extremely informative and, I think, an important program.

Loved the "al Jazeera: Arab Voices" doc they aired recently.

[transeo]

29. Gave it up two years ago

One of the best things I have ever done for myself. I do occassionally watch nature shows at my bf's house, but that's it. Everything else just pisses me off.

[Tellurian]

30. The only news that even remotely resembles accuracy in reporting is CBS

and *Frontline*..

Otherwise, my tv is set to the HGtv channel all day long.

[foreigncorrespondent]

31. I still watch tv...

...in the evenings. But I have given up watching day time tv, and the news completely!

Although I admit when I heard during a news break earlier in the week (during an evening) that some people may not be able to vote in the coming federal election here in Australia, I had to watch the late news to find out what it was all about.

[Justpat]

32. I turned my TV off in '87.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

33. Very limited menu

News World International
Japanese news in the morning on International Channel
BBCAmerica Monday night mysteries
HBO Sunday night series
Bill Moyers
Frontline, Nova, and P.O.V., if the topic is something I'm interested in
Not much else. Sometimes I'm in the mood for a little brain candy, and I look in my TV Guide and there's NOTHING on that I'm even willing to snack on.

[Zhade]

60. "Japanese news in the morning on International Channel"

If you're in LA, and you're talking about KSCI Channel 18 - I used to work there as a master control operator. In fact, I used to air the very news you're talking about.

Here at my current tv job, I watch next to no tv, except for reruns of the Simpsons, Worldlink, movies once in a while, and Newsworld International (though the latter is owned by *gag* Viacom and isn't all that much better than network news, in terms of newscasts).

[BANGARANG]

34. Rarely

I rarely watch TV. And if I do, it's The History Channel, Comedy Central, Food Network, or C-Span.

[SnohoDem]

35. We almost never watch TV

just movies on DVD.

[VOX]

36. Only the occasional movie on cable. That's it.

Get all my news from NPR, BBC and DU.

Am waiting for Air America to return to Southern California.

[Emboldened Chimp]

37. Television Sucks

I stopped watching a few years ago. I will, however, watch the Oscars and the World Series. Other than that, I can't stand it.

[progressivebydesign]

38. Zero broadcast t.v. I only watch an hour or so of cooking shows a week NT

[Andy_Stephenson]

40. TV...

whats that?

[leesa]

42. I only watch the classic movies and classic TV shows now.

[Tracer]

43. I'll be honest.

I watch plenty of TV.

PBS
H&G
Food Channel
Discovery
TLC
Animal Planet
C-Span

But one thing I haven't watched in years is the networks (Survivor excepted and am looking forward to The Amazing Race).

I've never seen one episode of Sex in the City, The West Wing or any of the other sitcoms, cop shows, lawyer shows, doctor shows, or reality bachelor shows.

[playahata1]

44. Not much anymore.

I watch sports -- especially my YANKEES if they are on -- and I am ever vigilant for any RW propaganda they try to slip into broadcasts.

I watch the Food Network and, occasionally, Animal Planet. I watch PBS and the movie channels and some Comedy Central. ALL cable news has been programmed OFF my remote -- though I did briefly check out CNN to catch the replay of Junior Reagan's eulogy for his father.

When I want and need news, I get it online -- again, THANK YOU, Skinner and Elad, for being here to provide me with links to THE TRUTH. And when I am not online, I read, listen to music (mostly 70s stuff) and do other productive things. I do not need the negative energy that the corporate, commercial, corrupted and compromnised media gives off.

[Zorra]

45. Have not watched TV for most of my life.

Don't have a "consumer normalization device" and have not watched TV for 12 years.

Just an image on a screen
Vision from a satellite beam
It's enough to make you scream,

Who are we?
Captain Kirk
Cast of Friends
Colmes and Hannity
As The World Turns,

A Video Lobotomy.

[greendeerslayer]

46. Haven't Had A T.V. Since 95...

....And I have the bookshelves to prove it

[blindpig]

47. tv: america's #1 drug

mind control. bread & circuses. Call it what you will. Nothing I'd like to see more than all tvs going blank. Then we could see how deeply the idiot box effects our society. Scary.
Never liked it much as an adult, gave it up entirely 15 years ago.

[killbotfactory]

49. There's only a couple shows worth watching

So I got rid of cable a couple years ago

[mr blur]

51. I haven't watched TV since I was a kid.

I sometimes catch sight of stuff that the (teenage) boys are watching and it sure seems like garbage to me.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

52. I only watch it rarely

and I almost NEVER watch any kind of news on TV. I used to only catch BBC World News, but I don't even bother with that anymore.

I get most of my news from print sources and the internet.

There are a few shows on BBC America I do enjoy ("The Office" springs to mind). But I can't stand "reality TV" and never watch that and most sitcoms just make me want to constantly roll my eyes.

That plus the fact that I HATE commercials with a passion means I watch precious little TV. If it weren't for my husband I doubt I'd see any purpose in owning one.

(Oh as a sidenote, I did happen to catch The Daily Show on that comedy channel the other night and I did laugh pretty hard. Might have to see when that airs from now on. It was a hoot!)

99% of TV sucks.

[Droopy]

55. Once in a great while

I'll watch tv. Usually only if there's a big game on or a movie that I really want to see or if there's big news on. I'll go weeks without watching it, though.

[eridani]

56. Never in real time

I've watched shows taped by friends--only what they think are the best episodes. Like the article says, anything worth watching turns up on DVD eventually.

[ikojo]

57. No, TV (or very, very little).

I primarily listen to Air America or surf the Internet. I also have a sizeable DVD collection. The guy is right...I heard about the Chappelle show and never saw it until I bought the DVD.

Why should I listen to a bunch of overpaid and underworked robots spew the government line? How is the media in this country any different than any state sponsored media in other countries?

[smirkymonkey]

61. I haven't watched it in years.

I turn on NY1 for the weather in the morning and that's about it. If I stay at someplace there is cable I love Comedy Central, especially the Daily Show and South Park. Other than that, telvision pretty much irritates me.

It's amazing how stupid TV seems when you turn on the tube after a prolonged absence. I think it works like a drug, the more you watch it, the more you need to watch it. Abstinence is the only way to go straight.

[mitchum]

62. I haven't watced in three years. Ruben, Paris, Nick and Jessica...

are just names I overhear. Who wants to watch that shit anyway?

[Only Me]

63. I watch very little tv about 1-2 hrs aweek.

Special broadcast or Just a particular show that has someone on I want to see. I get my news mainly from the internet or newspaper.

[Beaker]

64. I watch TV a lot...

and I generally enjoy it.

[AP]

65. Got rid of cable. Watching dramatically less TV. Turned to radio.

LBN, too. Thinking about netflix for movies.

[unkachuck]

66. I watch very very little TV.....

....I decided I could no longer stomach the thousands of daily advertisements that I was constantly being bombarded with (on garbage I could care less or nothing about), not to mention the 'crap-filler' between these commericals.....I get most everything I need off the internet....

[Jim Warren]

67. don't need a weatherman

to know which way the wind sucks

[Lindsey]

68. I watch HBO - six feet under, the movie channels, and tv land

which has old shows like Dick Van Dyke, Andy Griffith, etc. I watch CSPAN if the subject/guests/events are progressives. I quit watching network news since the sniper fiasco in '02 and I don't watch ANY network t.v. shows. Except, tonight I did watch Letterman because Michael Moore was on.

[Algomas]

69. Pulled the plug a few months ago.

I finally realized that I was paying to have my mind poisoned. It was such a pleasure to make the call to terminate service!!!

[wickerwoman]

70. Almost never for about twelve years now.

I buy DVDs of the two or three shows I follow. The only thing I watch on TV is Arsenal matches. And now it's the summer so I can't remember the last time it was on.

As a side-note, the last time I went to stay with my parents for a few weeks I noticed that they had not one, but three TVs on all day long in different rooms of the house. I found it really unsettling and invasive. I don't know how people do it.

[peacefreak]

71. Pulled cable last summer

& don't miss it. Guilty pleasure--Survivor. Otherwise I watch CBS news to see what they're reporting, as well as what they're NOT.

[devinsgram]

72. Use my TV for the weather

get my news here, joined Netflix for movies and that's about it.

[Rebellious Republican]

73. Gave up cable 2 years ago, mostly I could not afford it, thats one

positive that came out chimps poor economy for me. I do not miss it, even if we ever get on solid financial footing again, I am not going to turn it back on!

:toast:

[carolinayellowdog]

74. Used to love TV news-- the tide turned in December 2000

and I could not bear to turn on a TV and risk seeing the usurper pretending to be president after that. Not while knowing that this medium had caused this horrendous turn of events in large part. Now I watch at friends' houses but am 4 years abstinent at home with no regrets.

[Seabiscuit]

75. Only watch

PBS, BBC, CSPAN, 60 Minutes, Nightline, History Channel, Discovery Channel, and movies.

For news I read the internet. I also listen to Air America's streaming audio. In general, CBS, ABC, and to a much greater extent, NBC, MSNBC, FOX and CNN are all BS and a complete waste of time. They'll raise your blood pressure and bore the crap out of you at the same time. Hell, they'll even put you to sleep and still make you angry.

[Eric J in MN]

76. Me. I cancelled tv service about 3 weeks ago. (nt)

nt

[Peak_Oil]

77. It was the commercials that got to me.

After I'd had the TV off for like 2-3 years, I was at this chick's house catching the news. The headline news story... HEADLINE.... was a new line of fucking MAKEUP had come out that day and they were interviewing women about it....

That was enough. THe vapidity of the TV world is just unbelievable.

I've realized that my generation has been completely socialized by TV. It's sad. We gotta take our minds back.