Why is television still so popular...

Maybe people are lazy or just exhausted after a hard day.

I believe that's the real reason. Computers call for some active participation on the users' part.

I like those news bulletins.

you might as well ask: why do people ask rhetorical questions?

"For example: trashy films; chat shows; food fiascos (Gordon Ramsey 'et al'); 'my mother slept with my boyfriend' boo-hiss-weep stuff; news bulletins aimed at those with a mental age of seven; soap operas; 'how much is yer house/attic/antique worth?' trash; so-called reality TV, etc, etc."

It sounds like you're well qualified to answer your own question.

I canceled my cable service a few years ago and don't watch regular television anymore, except when I am at a friends.

As tigronne said, I am able to create my own television station that doesn't have commercials and only plays what I like. Now on the odd times when I do watch regular television, I can't imagine how everyone puts up with it...

Thanks for all replies.

I hardly ever watch TV but the other day I flicked through one after another channel out of curiosity. All were appalling.

I've seen a few interesting programmes on BBC4 of late, and C4 can still deliver (tho' very rarely these days).

As for news channels? Same crap, same line, same churning out the sanitised 'facts'.

"A vast quantity of stations to choose from is not necessarily the answer either." (D_D,2). Seems the more the less.

"OP, because it provides some fort of escapism?" (9). Perhaps (probably), orangutan.

"you might as well ask: why do people ask rhetorical questions?" (13). Are ye trying tae be witty, evening?

"It sounds like you're well qualified to answer your own question." (14). Whilst I'll take this as a compliment O_O, please note: people less kind than ye are wont tae use this manœuvre as a vehicle for unjustifiable criticism.

no. I agree with you, OP. TV has really taken a downward turn in the last 10 years, or maybe there has been a general cultural shift? (or maybe I'm just older). Or maybe once you've traveled a lot you have different priorities with how you want to spend your time and a different outlook on entertainment.

exceptions? "The Family Guy" and "Scrubs" still make me laugh, and I still try to catch "The Amazing Race", mostly because I'm such a fan of Phil Keoghan. A new show I try to catch is "The Soup" - very funny.

Fairly simple to answer, I would imagine; it's because there's a LOT of people that like to watch those sort of shows. No TV station will show so much of this stuff if nobody was watching, or asking for it. It may not be your taste, and,. by and large, most of TV isn't my taste either, but there you go.

The OP should read 'Why do people like these sort of programmes ?'

I really don't don't think TV has gotten worse over the last however many years at all, on my cable system anyway. It's just become way more diverse. The trash has got trashier and the good stuff has become better and more available. Any hour of the day I'm pretty sure I could at least find some decent documentary, nature show, or non garbage news, and then there's CSPAN, which may be boring as all get out at times but for those interested in un biased political coverage it doesn't get any better. 15 years or so ago I don't remember having this sort of stuff available all the time.....but I could be off on how long ago it was. And by the same token I can get complete crap any time of the day.....years ago the choice for complete crap was pretty much limited to soap operas at times.

"Fairly simple to answer, I would imagine; it's because there's a LOT of people that like to watch those sort of shows."

It's actually not that simple Gyro. Another factor is those shows cost next to nothing to make. It's supply and demand, not just demand.