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According to Nielsen Media Research's latest report, the average American household watches 8 hours and 15 minutes of television in a 24-hour period. The average amount of time per individual (over the age of 2) is about 4 and a half hours.

Does that seem like a lot of time in front of the TV? Have you ever stopped to consider your own family's viewing habits?

Think for a minute about your favorite TV shows. Do you like dramas, sitcoms, soap operas, reality shows, game shows, talk shows, or TV movies? How long are your favorite shows and how often do you watch them?

A further breakdown of Nielsen's report shows that prime time viewing only accounted for a small portion of the total TV time, about 2 hours of the total household time and about 1 hour per individual. Prime time viewing is when most new episodes are run. It includes Monday through Saturday evenings, from 8:00 - 11:00 PM.

The majority of TV viewing takes place outside of prime time, throughout the day and night. With so many channels available, there are TV shows to appeal to a wide variety of viewers at any time. You can find favorite sitcoms at 2 AM, talk shows all morning and afternoon, and movies around the clock.

Most shows air new episodes weekly during a season, but once a show hits syndication it could be shown multiple times a day and on several channels. How many times have you sat down to watch one half-hour show and found yourself pulled into the next episode as well? And what about those weekend afternoon marathons?

That isn't to say that everyone watching TV is sacked out on the couch. For a lot of people, TV is friendly background noise, like a radio or stereo. The TV goes on when it's time to iron, fold laundry, clean the house, or make dinner. Many people also turn on the TV when they hit the treadmill, either at home or at the gym.

There is a lot of debate over the value of television. Many people think that TV is the downfall of society. They call it the "idiot box" or the "electronic babysitter". Research has shown the value of quality family time, especially for growing children and teenagers, and many experts encourage families to turn off the TV during dinner to promote conversation.

However, some families report spending quality time together watching TV shows and discussing them throughout the week. American Idol and Dancing with the Stars are two family friendly shows that come to mind.

Whether you think four hours of TV viewing a day is excessive or not enough, it's clear that television is here to stay.

Learn more about this author, Susan Quilty.
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