Spettacolo
TV Licensing Reveals Perfect Recipe for Stress-Free Christmas TV Viewing
On Christmas Day 2010, the average UK household watched almost eight hours (7 hours and 45 minutes) of television and this year viewing time is likely to be no different. To encourage familial cheer and goodwill, TV Licensing has explored people's festive viewing preferences, and come up with the perfect recipe of TV programmes to keep everyone happy. Results revealed, for example, the ideal amount of time to watch comedy specials on Christmas Day is 60 minutes, while it is 40 minutes for soap operas.
To ensure harmonious TV viewing on Christmas Day , you need:
Christmas classics rule the roost for people of all ages. The nation's favourite Christmas film is, by a narrow margin, 'It's a Wonderful Life', with 15% of people saying it topped their list. 'Home Alone' was a close second with 14%, and the 1954 version of 'White Christmas' was third (11%). As for Christmas comedy specials, sitcoms from the nineties and early noughties were much-loved, with one in five people saying Only Fools and Horses was their favourite, followed by Morecambe and Wise (12%) and The Royle Family (11%).
Sports programmes divided the sexes most, with just 31% of women saying they would watch sport on Christmas Day , compared to 45% of men. The survey also revealed that men are most likely to be in charge of the remote control over Christmas, with 39% of people selecting Dads, partners and Grandads as the main culprits.
"The coming together of families and friends to watch television on Christmas Day is almost as much of a tradition as opening presents or eating turkey. But, with a packed TV schedule to choose from, it can be difficult to agree on what to watch," said Farimah Darbyshire , TV Licensing spokesperson. "Everyone in a household will have their own favourite programmes, and it is all about compromise."
"But whatever you choose to watch on television this Christmas, it is important to be aware of the need to be covered by a valid TV Licence to watch or record programmes at the same time as they are shown on TV."
A survey of 1,000 people by third party research house, OnePoll, was conducted between November 25 and December 1, 2011 .
Notes to Editor:
Who needs a TV Licence?
If you use or install television equipment to receive or record television programmes as they are being shown on TV, you need to be covered by a valid TV Licence. Viewing television without a licence risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000. A colour TV Licence currently cost £145.50. A black and white TV Licence currently costs £49.00. Those over 75 are entitled to a free TV Licence.
Paying for a TV Licence:
TV Licensing aims to make it as easy as possible for people to buy a TV Licence, which is why there are many different ways to pay. They include:
For more information, or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please call the TV Licensing press office on +44(0)20-7544-3144 or email mediaenquiries@tvlicensing.info