People are losing out on “moments of togetherness” watching TV because they are streaming shows on separate devices, the bishop of London has said.
Right Rev Dame Sarah Mullally said the profusion of choice meant that watching TV had become a “more solitary and insular” experience.
Writing in the Radio Times, she said: “The way in which we as a nation consume TV and media throughout the year has changed beyond recognition.
“Our lives have become more and more dominated by the instant gratification available through our mobile phones and social media. Streaming sites have sought to displace traditional channels, allowing us to watch whatever we want whenever we want it. With that, the act of watching TV has become more solitary and insular. A far cry from the years many of us remember of three channels and one set per household.”
Streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime have transformed the way people watch TV, with subscription packages enabling viewers in the same household to watch shows on different devices, and binge-watch entire series rather than waiting for a weekly episode.
This means that fewer people are gathering together to watch the same show at the same time, spelling the end of “event” TV, where so many have people have watched an episode of a major programme that it becomes the main topic of conversation at work or school the next day.
Mullally feels that “for all the technological advances and abundance of choice, something has been lost”, and urged people to consider prioritising shared experiences over the holiday period.
She said: “Christmas now feels like one of the few times a year when we can unapologetically press pause on the incessant demands of the modern world and truly be present with family and loved ones. That includes precious hours spent around the TV; laughing together, crying together, being together. The fact that this is more of a rarity today makes these moments of togetherness all the more special.”
She said she was looking forward to watching Call the Midwife, The Great British Bake Off and the king’s Christmas message.
She added: “Though viewing figures aren’t what they used to be, I sense that the enduring cultural impact of British TV, and the role it plays in bringing us together, will remain steadfast despite the ever-changing technological landscape.”
