Binge watching kills off ‘water cooler’ TV chat
THEY were known as ‘watercooler moments’, the often nailbiting TV shows which drew tens of millions of viewers and sparked debate in every office the next day.
But it seems such shared viewing experiences are becoming a thing of the past as modern technology changes our viewing habits.
Now, more than seven out of ten people ‘binge watch’ by viewing episodes of their favourite shows back to back.
Media watchdog Ofcom’s latest report shows 74 per cent of Scots binge, with 38 per cent doing so at least weekly, compared with 35 per cent across the uK as a whole.
However, while 70 per cent of Scots TV bingers claim the habit is relaxing or enjoyable, 33 per cent admit they sometimes miss out on sleep and have been left feeling tired.
More than a quarter, 27 per cent, neglected housework, while 7 per cent said their job or homework had suffered as a result of the hours spent in front of the goggle box.
Many bingers, it seems, watch multiple episodes to avoid spoilers from colleagues. Although 29 per cent said it gave them ‘something to talk about with friends’, 23 per cent want to find out what happens before someone else gives it away.
And while nearly one in ten (9 per cent) said binge watching brought them closer to friends and family, 4 per cent admitted it made them miss out on spending time with loved ones.
Ofcom regulatory affairs manager Alan Stewart said: ‘The main theme for this year is binge watching, where people watch episodes back to back.
‘Seventy-four per cent of adults in Scotland are using technology such as catch-up or subscription services to watch multiple episodes of a TV series at once.’
People in Scotland spend an average of three hours and 56 minutes per day watching television, 24 minutes longer than the uK average. But live broadcast programmes still play a central role, noticeably with sporting coverage.
Dunblane tennis ace Sir Andy Murray’s 2016 victory in the Wimbledon men’s singles final on BBC One, for example, was watched by around ten million people.
Ofcom Scotland director Glenn Preston said: ‘Technology has revolutionised the way we watch television. Gone are the days of waiting a week for the next episode. Now people find it hard to resist watching multiple episodes around the house or on the move.
‘But it is important to recognise that live television still has a special draw, and has the power to bring the whole family together in a common experience.’