Hey there! Loring here. As an electronic expert and gaming/streaming hobbyist myself, I get the appeal of kicking back with a controller just as much as vegging out in front of the tube. But I’d say more often than not, TV wins out in delivering an entertainment experience that gaming just can’t duplicate.
Now I know diehard gamers may cry foul. But hear me out on why television can be the superior option, based on tons of data and insights from my decade in the tech world. By the end, you’ll hopefully agree that TV deserves a prime spot in any home looking for variety, engagement and sheer enjoyment from entertainment tech.
TV Offers Unmatched Variety
One massive advantage TV has over any other medium is the incredible breadth of content available. Whereas games focus heavily on interactivity, TV offers a diversity of passive programming tailored to virtually every taste imaginable. Just look at the myriad genres to choose from:
News – Stay up to date on current events via 24 hour cable news like CNN, Fox News, MSNBC or network programs like 60 Minutes and 20/20. Pew Research finds local TV news still remains Americans‘ top news source.
Sports – Catch live games in every sport from NFL to NBA to MLB with commentary that makes you feel part of the action. Super Bowl LIV drew over 96 million viewers, per Forbes.
Reality Shows – Journey into the lives of real people across shows like Survivor, American Idol, The Bachelor or The Real Housewives franchises. 81% of Netflix views are reality shows.
Sitcoms/Comedies – Laugh away stress with funny shows like Friends, The Office, Parks & Rec, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and so many more. Comedies comprise 35% of Netflix views.
Dramas – Lose yourself in gripping serialized stories from hits like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and more. They make up 14% of Netflix streams.
Documentaries – Learn new things by going inside everything from crime cases to music to sports. Netflix docs like Making a Murderer or Last Dance are hugely popular.
And we haven’t even gotten into lifestyle shows, late night comedy, talk shows, etc. Bottom line, the diversity across both broadcast and streamed TV is unparalleled. In 2020 alone, over 500 scripted shows were made in the U.S. By contrast, only 344 games were released that same year according to Metacritic data. TV’s variety is hard for any other medium to match.
On-Demand Convenience Can‘t Be Beat
Not only does TV offer endless variety, but streaming services have made accessing a personalized slate of shows utterly convenient. Gone are the days of waiting for network premieres or timeslots. Now you can binge shows on your schedule across services like:
-
Netflix – The OG streaming service, with hits like Stranger Things alongside licensed shows like The Office and classic movies. Netflix has over 200 million subscribers.
-
Hulu – Leading for next-day streaming of network and cable shows, with acclaimed originals like The Handmaid‘s Tale. Counts over 40 million subscribers.
-
HBO Max – Premium service with top HBO originals like Game of Thrones plus hit movies. Has over 17 million subscribers already.
-
Disney+ – Home to Disney/Pixar animation, Marvel, Star Wars and more family hits. Boasts a whopping 100+ million subscribers.
With entire libraries available instantly, streaming eliminates hassles like driving to a video store or waiting for an appointment slot. You‘re always just a few clicks away from your favorite shows. And recommendations help you easily discover new options tailored to your tastes. Nothing beats on-demand TV‘s convenience and personalization.
TV Dominates Leisure Time Use
Exactly how much time do people spend watching TV versus gaming? The data shows TV absolutely dominates leisure time, especially among older demographics.
Among U.S. adults, TV accounts for over half of leisure hours according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data below:
| Activity | Average Hours Per Day |
| Watching TV | 2.8 |
| Socializing, Relaxing and Leisure | 0.46 |
| Playing Games | 0.18 |
Among younger adults aged 15-34, watching TV and movies still edges out gaming:
| Activity | Average Hours Per Week (ages 15-34) |
| Watching TV, movies & streaming | 16.1 |
| Gaming | 11.1 |
Data source: Statista
And teens spend over double the time watching TV versus gaming according to Common Sense Media:
| Activity | Average Hours Per Day (ages 13-18) |
| Watching TV | 2:39 |
| Gaming | 1:14 |
Data source: Common Sense Census
So while gaming occupies a share of leisure time, TV remains dominant, especially among teens and adults. People spend the most time with activities offering the greatest variety and convenience – and television delivers.
TV Fosters Cultural Moments
Beyond pure hours watched, television often creates shared cultural experiences and influences society in ways unmatched by other media. Consider just some seminal TV moments that defined generations and shaped broader conversations:
-
Seinfeld – Created cultural shorthand like "yada yada" and "soup Nazi" still referenced today. Ranked by TV Guide as the #1 TV show of all time.
-
Grey‘s Anatomy – Led to record numbers of women entering medical school according to Washington Post. Large impact on society for a TV show.
-
Ellen – Popular sitcom lead publicly coming out as gay in 1997 broke barriers and advanced LGBTQ visibility.
-
Oprah – Talk show touched on important issues like sexual abuse recovery and advanced diversity. Ranked one of the most influential shows by Time.
While pastimes like gaming can occasionally pierce into shared cultural moments, TV‘s broad reach and accessibility has proven power to advance social change.
TV Can Enhance Your Overall Mood
TV isn‘t just mindless time sponge – studies show it can actually leave you happier and less stressed. Stanford researchers found laughing together synchronizes brainwaves and forges social bonding, making comedy a great shared activity. Beyond laughing, Mayo Clinic doctors say regular relaxation from leisure activities like TV helps manage overall stress.
Of course, binge-watching endlessly should still be balanced with exercise, socializing and other wellness priorities. But used wisely, TV offers mood benefits owing to power of stories and shared moments.
How to Maximize Enjoyment of TV
To fully capitalize on entertainment that TV offers over gaming, here are some tips to make viewing most meaningful and enjoyable:
-
Alternate TV nights with friends/family – Share the experience.
-
DVR sports and news – Skip commercials while catching must-see content.
-
Let a new show run a few seasons – Then binge-watch to avoid cliffhangers between episodes.
-
Subscribe to 2-3 services – Rotate to access more content without overload.
-
Follow fan communities – Discuss theories, insights online.
-
Create playlists for moods – Aggregate feel-good comedies, dramas for rainy days, etc.
-
Try international shows – Expose yourself to other cultures.
-
Check best-of lists – Identify acclaimed shows you may have missed.
Lastly, be sure to alternate TV time with other hobbies so it doesn’t dominate your leisure time completely. Like most things, moderation is wise.
Well there you have it – a complete look at why television can be considered the superior entertainment medium compared to gaming when it comes to options, convenience, mood enhancement and impact. What do you think? Got any other points I should have included or shows I need to check out? Let me know in the comments!
