For the Love and Hate of Television- Andrew Collins

I haven't sat down and watched T.V. at my house since the Olympics. For me, there are very few reasons for me to sit down and watch television.

My primary reason is a lack of content. I've never had cable at my house, (my dad says "I'd have too much to watch, I'd just watch TV all the time.") so there hasn't really been much that interests me on TV since I grew out of PBS programs. I get any news I might need from other sources like the internet, and my schedule doesn't allow me to sit down and watch a show at the same time every week (and I don't have a DVR since I don't have cable). With the arrival of a Netflix Streaming subscription a few years ago, I have no need to turn to live television for my entertainment. Its not a hard decision to watch what I want, when I want, with no ads, over a random show that is half advertising.

The best part of Netflix is the ability to watch some of the best shows TV has/had to offer in their entirety, from start to finish, with zero interruptions. Because of this ability, I have watched some of my favorite shows, such as Malcolm in the Middle, The Office, Psych, and Scrubs in their entirety or close to it.

Television does have some positives, however. Sometimes, ads can be a good thing. I know many people (including myself) who have sat for hours on end watching their favorite shows on Netflix. Advertisements on TV tend to create a shorter attention span, which means less time spent inactive on your couch. TV is also the undisputed source for live events, such as sports games and special events like the Olympics or the Emmy's. And of course, great comedies such as the Office wouldn't have even been a thought without the huge amount of financial support provided by advertising. I will always turn to my Television for a Sunday night football game or the greatest of Olympic events.