Only a third of the population focuses exclusively on the TV program.

Television viewing remains one of the most frequently cited leisure activities, yet only 35 percent of the population say they fully concentrate on the program. The vast majority of TV viewers turn away from the screen and do other things: they read and eat, iron and do crafts, chat, talk to friends on the phone, or do schoolwork. And one in ten Germans admits to occasionally falling asleep in front of the television. This is the result of a recent representative survey conducted by the BAT Leisure Research Institute. At the end of March, 2,000 people aged 14 and over were asked whether they had "just watched TV" on their last evening of television viewing or had also been "busy with other things.".

Everyday television viewing in families

While the TV program is on, in many households, individual family members pursue their own personal activities – as if television didn't exist. The men read the newspaper (14%), the women knit (18%) or iron (10%), and one in five young people (22%) aged 14 to 17 regularly does schoolwork while watching TV. The television is already switched on in one in seven families during dinner.

„As television ratings rise, its importance as the leading medium for leisure activities declines,“ says Prof. Dr. Horst W. Opaschowski, head of the BAT Institute. „Television is becoming a background activity because competition from other leisure pursuits is constantly increasing, and personal time pressure is growing.“ Many already consider „just watching TV“ a waste of time. Therefore, people use television to accomplish everyday tasks in order to gain more time for their own leisure interests. There is only one demographic group for whom the leisure activity of „just watching TV“ remains prevalent: Half of all retirees (49 %) maintain this habit. They have and make time for it – in stark contrast to, for example, stressed-out self-employed individuals and freelancers: Only a quarter of them can and want to afford the luxury of „just watching TV.“.

„"The event-like character of television is increasingly being lost," says Prof. Opaschowski. "As a result, television inevitably loses its appeal as a leisure activity." Television is becoming a second or third medium.

While the television is on, people are busy with other things. The analysis by the BAT Institute also reveals a sobering fact: one in eight Germans with children under 14 (12 %) plays with their children while the TV is on.

Technical data of the survey

Number of respondents: 2,000 people
Representation: Federal Republic of Germany and West Berlin, population aged 14 and over

Survey period: March 22nd to 30th, 1990

Wording of the question:
What was your last evening watching television like: Did you just watch TV or did you also do other things at the same time? (Answer prompts)