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Since the turn of the century, the way we watch TV has changed dramatically. With changes in tech and the rise of streaming services, people are discovering new ways to enjoy TV. As a result, there has never been more choice of what to put on after a long day at work.
But how are people enjoying their TV? Read on to learn what the UKs watching habits are.
How Much Time Do We Spend Watching TV?
Britons are watching more TV than ever. Ofcom conducted their annual study in 2021 into the amount of time we spend with our TVs and online video. The results are that people spend a third of their time watching a screen. This staggering figure is a full 47 minutes more than the previous year. In addition, three out of every five homes have signed up for at least one streaming service, but more on that later.
How Much Money Do We Spend on Televisions?
Finding a cheap LED TV to buy is more important than ever as the TV is just the first step. The average UK household can spend around £35 a month on their desired viewing experience.
The combination of the hardware and services can begin to stack up, but with savvy shopping, many people can create an authentic home cinema experience.
- – Super-speed HDMI cables
- – Soundbars
- – TV Stands/wall brackets
- – 3D Glasses
- – Surround sound speakers
All these accessories can build your experience into something extraordinary, and most households will be saving money by purchasing at least one of these accessories. Graded TVs have grown in popularity for this very reason, to help save some of your TV budget to spend on your eventual upgrades and extras.
Do We Use Streaming Services More Than Cable TV?
As of 2018, streaming services finally overtook terrestrial and cable tv, and the numbers keep rising.
In the same Ofcom report, UK subscriptions to various streaming services were 31 million, increasing from 20 million the previous year and still rising. April 2021 marked a landmark in UK streaming as people are now watching a combined total of 115,00 hours of content.
Amazon Prime Video catalogue alone is 41,000 hours of that total, ahead of Netflix with 38,000 hours of content. Their competitors combined don’t reach that total; this clearly shows the amount of attention the UK is putting into their chosen streaming packages.
- – Amazon Prime Video – 41,000 hours
- – Netflix – 38,000 hours
- – BBC Iplayer, ITV Hub, 4, My5 – 26,000 hours
- – Now TV, Apple TV, Discovery+ – 15,318 hours
One of the keys to streaming success is their binge-worthy content. But, of course, TV has always had shows that grab the nation’s attention. But even the best of them required you to make time to watch it live and making sure to see the latest episode of your fave hit show on the weekend used to be a ritual until the rise of on-demand content.
Broadcast TV and cable still have their regular viewers; the ability to browse live broadcasts will always have an appeal, but their audience is now becoming limited. The 16 – 34 year demographic have moved online to streaming services.
Do We Watch More TV Shows or Movies?
With the popularity of streaming services, audiences have moved away from movies and begun to invest in binge-worthy shows. The depths that creators can go when they have ten one-hour-long episodes to explore a story, far outweighs the limitations of a 2-3 hour movie. Audience reactions to shows like Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones and the Mandalorian have proved that a binge-worthy segmented show will beat those of a single film.
Additionally, with the developments in TV accessories, people now can enjoy cinema movies on their Cheap 4K TVs in the comfort of their own home. This has led to a decline in cinema audiences.
Unfortunately, apart from the occasional IP related feature movie, many films struggle to get the audiences they used to. For example, the recent feature release of ‘The Last Duel’ from acclaimed director Ridley Scott had a budget of $100 million but only grossed $30 million worldwide. Even the desperate release to Disney+ streaming service didn’t help.
In 2021 cinema audiences only amounted to roughly 74 million people. A startlingly low figure compared to 2014 when audiences ranged from 165 to 170 million per year. Nevertheless, the numbers speak for themselves that more and more UK audiences prefer to watch their movies in the comfort of their own home.
These factors have guided audiences into enjoying TV shows more than movies.
Top TV Brands in the UK
The TV brand market in the UK is highly competitive. With so many brands competing for your attention, finding the best one for your home can be challenging.
Some brands focus on providing a better picture, some concentrate on motion handling to stabilise the image, and some love their app integrations.
In our 26 years of trading experience, we can tell you this is excellent news! No matter your personal preference, we have a Cheap smart TV that’s just perfect for you. Contact our team of experts today, and we’ll help you find what you need.
