When it comes to the TV, we are spoilt for choice these days. Netflix, Disney, YouTube. Endless rows of things we could watch. And yet, somehow, there are still evenings when nothing quite fits the mood.
When that happens, I tend to want something cheerful. The world supplies more than enough doom without inviting it into the living room. Give me a comedy and I’m content. Preferably an older one. Back when people could have a laugh without checking who might be offended first. I’m perfectly happy watching something I’ve already seen and enjoyed.
There was a time when TV schedules stuffed with repeats were the butt of the joke. These days, rewatching is a conscious decision. Sometimes it’s not about nostalgia at all, it’s simply easier than scrolling endlessly through a streaming menu and still not deciding.
Putting on an old favourite
That’s not just me, either. When Britons can’t settle on something to watch, nearly as many say they’ll put on an old favourite (29%) as those who’ll gamble on something new (30%). A fair number, around one in six, give up entirely and turn the telly off to do something else. Probably for the best.
Interestingly, younger viewers are more likely to rewatch than older ones. Around 40% of people aged 25 to 49 will fall back on a familiar show, compared with just 14% of those over 65.
Comedy is the clear winner when it comes to rewatches. Half of Britons say they return to sitcoms at least now and again, with a dedicated 16% doing so regularly. About a third do it rarely, while a small minority refuse outright.
Drama is less tempting for a second round. Around a third will start a series again, but 16% won’t go back once it’s done. Reality TV fares worse still, with more people saying they’d never rewatch it than those who would.
Sitting in the middle
Compared to other forms of entertainment, television sits somewhere in the middle. Music is the undisputed champion of repetition, with most people happily replaying albums they already know. Films also get plenty of second viewings. Books, however, are more of a one-time commitment for many, while video games split opinion. Podcasts are the most fleeting of all, listened to once and then forgotten.
Age plays a role here too. Younger viewers are far more likely to rewatch dramas and reality shows than older ones. Comedy, though, cuts across the generations. If it’s funny, it’s funny, regardless of your birth certificate.
That said, younger adults are also less likely to watch scripted TV in general. A surprising number say they don’t watch drama or comedy at all. Which makes you wonder what they’re doing instead. Probably watching something on their phones. Or rewatching something. Again.
