Unofficial Christmas TV Spin-Off Poll Thread

I've only just realised that Asa's custom forum software doesn't include an option to start polls, which is disappointing, so, welcome to the U.C.T.S.O.P.T.

Prompted by a comment in the Official Christmas TV Thread that Xmas TV this year is a "turn-off", basically, I'm interested to know just how, rather than what, you watch at Christmas and when you watch it, and how it fits around your Christmas routine. I'm curious as to the different ways we all celebrate on the day, and, as TV enthusiasts, how we fit in the all-important Xmas televisual offerings.

For example, without going into too much detail -- my Christmas usually involves exchanging presents with the missus in the morning with Ed Stewart on in the background (Radio 2), then travelling to the relevant family home (we rotate venues between the three major branches of our family every year) at about 11, with an obligatory pub visit taking us to 2pm. After that, dinner takes us through to the evening, and the TV doesn't normally go on at all as we then exchange more presents through the evening. Usually as people drift off to bed it'll get put on for the news or, in years past, for something like Wallace & Gromit. The TV usually gets put on more on Boxing Day, but mostly only for the football results or for an afternoon movie just as background noise.

This year, the only things I'm really keen on watching are Mrs Brown's Boys which is on Boxing Day night anyway, by which time I'll either be home or on the way home, and the Top Gear Special, which is days later. If something like the Royle Family were on, I'd probably watch it on Catch-Up as I don't have a DVR.

So, how and when do you watch your Christmas TV? Choose one of the three options, and if you wish to elucidate in the manner I have, please do.

Watch Live
Record (VHS / DVR / Sky+ / V+)
Catch Up (iPlayer / Anytime / On Demand)

Record and watch the same night, particularly with Coronation Street as it means you can skip the adverts. Can't say I ever watch a non-BBC programme live anymore.

Here are the results of the Harvey Towers jury:

90% recorded (of which 90% Freeview+HD, 10% Sky box into DVD recorder);

8% watched live;

2% off catch-up.

Watch Live

I intend to watch the ITV1 morning film, the news, the BBC One afternoon film, the Channel 4 evening film, the Top Gear Christmas Special, Absolutely Fabulous, and then probably watch a film.

I spend the day at the family homestead, so its difficult to watch - properly watch - programmes, although that doesn't stop me trying. People coming and going or striking up conversation minutes into Victoria Wood or a film or something, and the TV ends up getting ignored. In the end I watch everything when I'm back at my own place later in the night.

Think I put quite a few things on my Virgin+ last year, but the hard drive is packed with stuff I want to keep - so this year I'll rely on iPlayer and other catch up services. The BBC's HD offerings on iPlayer are really impressive - and I've got into the habit of watching on a large PC monitor (on the table in front of me) rather than the bigger screen across the room. It seems a bit more engaging somehow - I didn't imagine I'd feel that way about telly through the PC, but there you go.

It's a mix between Live and iPlayer for me. The TV is usually on on Christmas Day for a few prime-time shows in the evening, but not during the day.

It's on more on Boxing Day, probably for more than the majority of the day.

http://tvfi/beta/emoticons/icon_arrow.gif Watch Live

I'll watch a few things live, like the Top Gear special, with maybe a few other shows like Doctor Who also being watched live. It's a massive step down from what I'd have watched live five years ago!

http://tvfi/beta/emoticons/icon_arrow.gif Catch Up

Anything I didn't have a particular desire to watch, or simply missed, I'll catch up with. Usually results in a look at the iPlayer homepage to see what tickles my fancy.

For me it's...
watch live during the daytime (mainly films), including Christmas day
record evenings and watch later that evening
catch up on anything that I forget to record.

Thank god it's not a poll, I wouldn't know which to choose.

I'd say most of the appointment-to-view TV at Christmas seems to be the evening line-ups (your EEs, Corries, Dr Whos etc) so I'd have picked "Record"

There's only Doctor Who out of those three that I'd want to watch. I think I'm similar to the earlier poster, the tv is usually on on Christmas day evening, but because thats the time that k see extended family, nobody really pays attention to it.

I miss things when they are live, intend to watch them later and then generally only catch up with them by chance when they are broadcast at a later date, which usually seems to be the following summer.

Christmas Day is usually the one day of the year where I try to watch as many shows live as possible. I usually watch most shows on iPlayer or 4oD during the rest of the year.

We usually keep BBC1 on most of the day, its mainly just on in the background though until the evening. Start watching live when Doctor Who begins, have an hour on the internet whilst Corrie airs and watch the rest of BBC1's offerings live until 11ish.

I still always prefer recording over the iPlayer etc. and only use that as a last resort - either if there is a scheduling clash or I miss something. I am watching less and less live, and most things, especially over Christmas, which I might watch live I'd also schedule to record too.

I do think OFCOM relaxing the rules a couple of years ago regarding the number of ad breaks in shows longer than an hour was the tipping point for many people. It's not so much the number of ads which I have the issue with, but it's how TV companies have decided to add an extra 10-15 minutes to shows - or even more - to capitalise on the extra break.