How do you watch TV?

[JET BOY]

I think the past year has been quite a year of change in the land of TV, what with the BBC iplayer and 4OD taking off big time, and stuff like youtube becoming a completely normal part of our lives, I wouldn't be at all surprised if less and less people are actually watching TV through their actual TVs.

Similarly, I'm sure US imports are really suffering over here, because you can watch them virtually as they screen in the US through your computer - be it through torrents or online streaming or whatever.

Anyway what is your current method of watching TV, and have you found it has changed somewhat over the past year or so?

POLL TO FOLLOW

[Star]

Iplayer has changed my life :o

[Indie]

I don't really watch TV all that much - i do watch Lost online and although i've not really watched much iplayer i could really see me getting into it if i wanted. I did watch an episode of chucklevision on it recently.

[lolly]

It's very rare that I watch things as they are actually broadcast. Now it's only The Apprentice and I'd Do Anything that I watched like that, plus 'event' TV like the ESC. The vast majority of what we watch is from sky+, so we watch it when we like, and then whizz through the adverts if there are any.

I never watch online streaming, be it British or US TV. I'd torrent it instead.

[Sild]

It's all on the telly still. A couple of shows I've been watching when they're shown (Doctor Who, I'd Do Anything, The Apprentice), everything else is recorded on the V+ thing and I catch up with it when I'm ready.

[Indie]

There appears to be no option for someone who watches TV but not as their main source

[Strawberry Jam]

Sport still remains a TV thing, but other than that it's really only Doctor Who, and anything else I can find interesting if I'm bored. Even then I'll often use torrents for Doctor Who so i can watch it with commentary later. I also use torrents for Scrubs and Lost too.

[Floppet]

I don't watch much TV anyway but I usually watch things "on demand" on Virgin if I miss them when they're scheduled. I download Lost because I left Sky and joined Virgin a week before Sky stopped Virgin having it. I've also watched a few things off 4OD like Gordon Ramsey and Shameless. Oh and I've downloaded a few South Park episodes.

[JET BOY]

See I have never been a big TV person myself anyway, but the internet has totally changed my TV watching habits that I did have. The only time I will watch the actual TV itself is for The Apprentice or for Eurovision, NO JOKE, and maybe perhaps the X Factor Final, but this is mainly because if you don't watch them as they go out you find out the result anyway the next day spoiling it for yourself.

Online streaming has totally changed my life. Being an insomniac student discovering the wealth of crappy US reality TV shows avaliable online to watch has been a godsend when I can't sleep. Similarly I don't think I would buy a Family Guy/South Park/American Dad etc DVD box set anymore because you can get every episode online for free - something that I think is going to become a big issue in the future.

Similarly I think DVD sales and rentals in general are going to plummet over the next few years - you can watch virtually any film online for free these days, completely taking away the risk of buying a DVD that might be rubbish. Its a very similar thing to music piracy I guess.

[JET BOY]

There appears to be no option for someone who watches TV but not as their main source

Oh I know the poll is mainly hogwash, there are loads of different options and I couldn't be bothered to think of them all if I'm being entirely honest.

If somebody wants to add this, and also Sky+ (or whatever) FEEL FREE

[SDF]

Apart from Desperate Housewives this past week, I have only ever watched TV through my TV, albeit my main source is recorded through the BTV (similar to Sky+).

[Star]

I used to watch more on TV, but now I know I can catch up when I want with iplayer I sometimes tend not to bother.

[TomH]

ONly on the TV really. The shit 4OD put me off

[David]

I watch some on a real TV but mostly through my PC.

[Karvel]

Online streaming has totally changed my life. Being an insomniac student discovering the wealth of crappy US reality TV shows avaliable online to watch has been a godsend when I can't sleep. Similarly I don't think I would buy a Family Guy/South Park/American Dad etc DVD box set anymore because you can get every episode online for free - something that I think is going to become a big issue in the future.
What online streaming is this?? Anyway I just Freewire TV/Zattoo, albeit rarely. Oh and FUCKING 4OD doesn't work on Macs..

[Halli]

Only on TV

I have watched The Apprentice on iplayer once and also Eastenders once.

It's definately something Ill do in the future

[Dr Lecter]

On my nice tv, on my comfy sofa with seventies ashtray next to me and emergency furry blanket to hand

[loomer]

Don't watch or like TV. Films much better quality.

That said, I now have a V+ box, so can record Hollyoaks/Enders which is all I ever watch. If anything really piques my interest I'll catch it later on DVD. (Probably not as I have too much to watch)

Torrenting I got into last year for American Idol, can't be bothered now. My disk is full now cause of video files. :grr: Need one of those external things or a clearout which will take years.

[Mark]

Through the TV. I use youtube but that's it for online watching.

[lolly]

ONly on the TV really. The shit 4OD put me off

I STILL can't use 4OD, or delete the fucker :evil:

[Loufoque]

At the moment online streaming because I don't have a TV but then I usually go round to people's flats to actually watch TV if there is something EVENT TELEVISION ON

But usually I use a TV in the main and only stream things like American shows which are ahead of UK schedules

[Crash]

Usually by watching the TV. If I miss something Ill catch it on iPlayer, but unfortunately 40d is (i) a pile of shit, and (ii) doesnt work on macs

[dUb]

Channel 4 are offering a normal iPlayer/ITV Catch Up style service now for the more recent programmes I notice.

4OD never worked for me either.

[loomer]

4OD is utterly VILE

I was almost tempted to reinstall it (probably hidden somewhere) as I saw Boy A seems on there.

But pointless watching it on a matchbox screen.. I hate when the quality diminishes and it gets more pixilated, never watch youtube vids in full screen.

[Kate]

I very very occasionally watch stuff on my computer, usually Hollyoaks if my cable On Demand is not working. I don't like watching stuff up here though cos I'd rather be on my SOFA

I might buy a laptop soon and then I can be more comfy

[loomer]

Yeah exactly! I'd rather watch it PROPERLY on the couch. Comfort is a priority.

I can do running commentary threads on TV shows here, but if it's something I really like.. nah, I'm off! Too distracting. A laptop, like you say would be good for that...

[Diddy]

I download most of the shows (usually US shows that won't show here for ages like Housewives, Ugly Betty), rent some (for catching up on other shows that have boxsets out like CSI and Charmed), and the rest I Sky+ (only really Lost and Dr Who)

[Emma]

I might buy a laptop soon and then I can be more comfy


i watch films on my laptop in preference to the actual TV a lot of the time because it's comfier to snuggle up in bed with it!

[WiDGe->]

OTHER TOO -> PS3 either wireless streaming from the PC or from the HDD.

[WiDGe->]

GO TEAM TORRENT!

David, David_5000, Ellie, Indie, jamatthews, jonhawk, lolly, loomer, POP!, Voxtrot, WiDGe->