Where are Brits Most Likely to Watch TV?
Lauren JaquesWhether your guilty pleasure is Strictly Come Dancing, The Great British Bake Off, or that gritty new crime drama, there’s plenty on the telly to stay in for during the colder months.
But now that technology allows us to stream our favourite shows from various devices, how many Brits are still sitting in front of the TV to watch their favourite programme?
We were curious to find out, so we surveyed more than 1000 people from across the UK to learn more about our telly habits, including how much TV we watch and where we prefer to watch it. Here’s what we discovered.
A nation of TV fanatics
There’s no denying us Brits love a bit of telly. Our survey results show that the average Brit watches between 16 and 20 hours of TV every week. (a) That’s a fairly reasonable2 to 3 hours a day.
However, we also discovered that 1 in 8 admit to regularly packing in more than 20 hours of TV a week, (b) with some racking up to 80 hours (c) – that’s over 4000 hours a year!
The region with the most TV fanatics was the West Midlands; in Birmingham alone, more than 22% of people regularly clock up more than 20 hours of TV a week, while those living in Greater London watched the least amount of telly, accruing less than 5 hours a week. (d)
Our results also reveal that the older we get, the more TV we’re likely to watch. More than 21% of those surveyed aged 55+ say they manage more than 20 hours during an average week, (e) compared to just over 2% of those aged 25 to 34. (f)
The best seat in the house
We know that Brits love vegging out in front of the telly, but where do we prefer to sit while we catch up on our favourite shows?
Although we can stream the latest episodes from our laptops, tablets, and smartphones, anywhere, anytime - 83% still prefer to get their TV fix from the comfort of their living room. (g)
The second most popular place to watch TV was the bedroom. (h) We discovered that a whopping 57% of Brits have a TV in their bedroom(i) - and almost a quarter of those who don’t wish they had! (j)
Why do we enjoy watching TV in bed?
It’s warmer and cosier
With energy bills soaring, it’s no surprise that many of us are looking for creative ways to stay warm this winter - and watching TV in bed might offer us the perfect solution. More than 41% of Brits say they prefer watching TV under the duvet because it’s much warmer and cosier than sitting in the living room. (k)
So, before cranking the heating up, consider crawling into bed instead!
It’s more convenient
If you’re like the 37% of men surveyed who enjoy watching TV before falling asleep, having a television in your bedroom makes total sense. (l)
Let’s face it, it’s much more convenient to roll over and turn the lights out when your show has finished, than doing the half-asleep walk from the living room to the bedroom.
And if you’re like the 1 in 4 adults over 55 who have difficulty sleeping, (m) watching TV could serve as a welcome alternative to staring at the ceiling!
It makes lie-ins even better
Almost half of those surveyed said their biggest motivation for having a TV in the bedroom is so they don’t need to move from their comfy bed to catch up on their favourite shows on their days off. (n)
Could there be anything better on your day off than watching TV snuggled in bed? Well, maybe having someone bring you a cuppa, but we can’t have everything, can we?
It provides background noise
More than 23% of those surveyed say they enjoy having a TV in their room because they like background noise. (o)
If you struggle to fall asleep in complete silence, switching on the telly to watch your favourite sitcom or stream a white noise playlist may help you drift off to a peaceful slumber.
Should you invest in a TV bed?
Aura Ottoman TV Bed
If all this talk of watching TV in bed has you tempted to get one, but you don’t think you have the space or are worried about the hassle of fixing it to your wall, a TV bed may be the perfect solution, here’s why.
They are fantastic space savers
TV beds have a retractable television built into a hidden compartment at the foot of the bed. A manual lift mechanism lifts the TV when you’re ready to watch it and puts it back down when you’re done, taking up no additional space in your bedroom!
Many TV beds, like the Aura Ottoman TV Bed frame also come in a range of sizes, such as double, king and super-king, to suit any bedroom size. And the best part? The concealed compartment is also the perfect place to hide unsightly wires, media devices and game consoles.
They enable you to watch WHAT you want WHEN you want
28% of females surveyed said watching what they want was the main reason for having a TV in their room, (p) while 41% of men said being able to watch TV whenever was their biggest motivator. (q)
A TV bed is sure to please everyone. While they watch the football in the living room, you can retreat to the bedroom to watch what you want completely uninterrupted, from the comfort of your bed. And if you have different bedtimes, the built-in headphone socket in the Esther Ottoman TV Bed frame means you can carry on watching your series without disturbing your sleeping partner.
They provide maximum comfort
Rhea Ottoman TV Bed Frame
Sitting in bed to watch TV can be much more comfortable than sitting on the sofa, especially if you have mobility issues, like the 10% of females we surveyed. (r) With a TV bed, you can select the type of mattress you need to ensure you’re completely supported as you get stuck into the latest Netflix drama. Choose from a range of mattresses, such as an orthopaedic mattress for maximum support or a memory foam mattress for unrivalled comfort.
They enhance your viewing experience
TV beds give you the feeling of having your own private screening room at home. For example, the 43” 4K Ultra-HD TV that comes with the Aura Ottoman TV Bed frame has incredible features, such as exceptional picture quality, and Dolby Atmos 360-degree surround sound, making it perfect for movie nights!
Dreaming of a TV bed but worried about the cost? At Benson’s, we make investing in a luxurious TV bed affordable with our 0% APR finance payment options.
Contact us today to find out more about our fantastic finance options.
Survey results
a. 32.25% (555 of 1721) people surveyed answered ’16-20 hours’ when asked, ‘During a typical week, how many hours, if any, on average, do you spend watching TV?’
b. 236 of 1721 people surveyed answered ‘more than 20 hours’ when asked, ‘During a typical week, how many hours, if any, on average, do you spend watching TV?’
c. Of the 236 people surveyed who said they watch more than 20 hours of television a week, 10 people said 60 hours, 9 people said 70 hours, 1 person said 72 hours, 1 person said 78 hours and 1 person said 84 hours.
d.36 of 158 people surveyed from Birmingham answered, ‘more than 20 hours’ and 49 of 188 people from Greater London answered ‘up to 5 hours’ when asked, ‘During a typical week, how many hours, if any, on average, do you spend watching TV?’
e.162 of 766 people surveyed aged 55 and over answered ‘more than 20 hours’ when asked, ‘During a typical week, how many hours, if any, on average, do you spend watching TV?’
f. 8 of 347 people surveyed aged 25 to 34 answered ‘more than 20 hours’ when asked, ‘During a typical week, how many hours, if any, on average, do you spend watching TV?’
g. 1397 of 1673 people surveyed answered ‘living room’ when asked, ‘Which room in your home do you usually watch TV?’
h. 182 of 1673 people surveyed answered ‘bedroom’ when asked, ‘Which room in your home do you usually watch TV?’
i. 998 of 1721 people surveyed answered ‘yes’ when asked, ‘Do you have a TV in your bedroom?’
j. 175 of 723 people surveyed answered ‘yes’ when asked, ‘Would you like to have a TV in your bedroom?’
k. 416 of 998 people surveyed answered ‘it’s warmer and cosier to watch TV in bed’ when asked. ‘What are the main reasons/benefits for having/watching TV in your bedroom, if any?
l. 191 of 516 males surveyed answered ‘I like to watch TV before going to sleep so having a TV in my bedroom is more convenient’ when asked, ‘‘What are the main reasons/benefits for having/watching TV in your bedroom, if any?’
m. 16 of 63 people surveyed aged 55 and over answered ‘because I struggle to sleep so would like to put the TV on during the night if I’m unable to sleep’ when asked, ‘What are your main reasons for wanting a TV in your bedroom?’
n. 49.71% (87 of 175) people surveyed answered ‘So I can watch TV while having a lie in on a weekend/on my days off’ when asked, ‘What are your main reasons for wanting a TV in your bedroom?’
o. 59 of 249 people surveyed answered, ‘background noise’ when asked, ‘What are the main reasons/benefits for having/watching TV in your bedroom, if any?’
p. 25 of 88 females surveyed answered ‘So that I can watch what I want to watch rather than watching what the kids/partner/housemates want to watch’ when asked, ‘What are your main reasons for wanting a TV in your bedroom?’
q. 36 of 87 males surveyed answered, ‘So I can watch TV at any time’ when asked, ‘What are your main reasons for wanting a TV in your bedroom?’
r. 9 of 88 females surveyed answered ‘Because I have mobility issues and watching TV in bed is more comfortable for me’ when asked, ‘What are your main reasons for wanting a TV in your bedroom?’