TV enthusiasts take up to 20 minutes to decide what to watch, study finds

Nearly two-thirds of Brits (65%) admit it takes them up to 20 minutes to decide what to watch on TV – and even then, 32% will get bored in the middle of an episode, and abandon the show completely, a survey has found.

One in five (22%) reckon their attention span is to blame for their sporadic TV viewing habits – with half (51%), of the 2,000 TV fans polled, admitting they always have an unfinished TV series on the go at any one time.

In fact, respondents typically claim to have four shows on their “currently watching” list – with 36% saying they have not been able to find the time to finish these.

Other reasons for not getting through these TV series include their mood changing (32%), and forgetting what has happened previously on the show (33%).

But one in 10 TV enthusiasts (11%) have given up on one of their current series in order to stay on top of the latest hot shows, that everyone is talking about.

It emerged that those polled currently have five shows on their “to watch” list – and add two new shows to this each month. The study was commissioned by streaming service, Roku, to launch its new “What to Watch” feature.

Sally Nelson, director of UK product at the brand, said: “With hundreds of new films and TV shows released each year, the choice of entertainment can become overwhelming.

“Paired with the pressure to be a part of cultural conversations, we now know how people feel – with the research showing that an individual has to watch at least two series each month to keep up.”

According to the poll, carried out via OnePoll.com, the main components considered when deciding on their TV content include what mood they are in (49%), whether it’s been recommended by someone they know (27%), and the cast (25%).

And 29% will then view half an episode before deciding whether or not to continue with it.

It also emerged that, when it comes to talking to friends and family about what they are watching on TV, this is the most popular topic of conversation for 39% – ahead of the weather forecast (27%), food (24%), their employment (24%), and even relationships (17%).

And if Brits ever find themselves struggling for what to watch, half will go on a scrolling frenzy until they find something which appeals to them, while 14% will refer to a list they keep of shows which they come across in their everyday lives.

It also emerged half have previously watched an unfinished show “just for the sake of it”, rather than for the enjoyment. But one in 10 feel anxious, knowing they have a selection of not fully finished programmes on various streaming services.

Sally Nelson added: “In today's fast-paced world, it's crucial to maximize our leisure time, and the last thing people want to do is waste precious moments deciding what to watch. If we reduced this time by half, people would have enough time to enjoy an extra series per year.”

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