Eight in Ten Brits Multitask While Watching TV

LONDON: A study from BT TV has revealed that only a fifth (22 percent) of viewers in the U.K. settle in to watch TV without interruption, reinforcing the rising trend of "media meshing."

Eight in ten Britons said they are distracted by other forms of entertainment, taking on tasks such as responding to emails, reading, Internet shopping and online dating while watching television. More than half (55 percent) of respondents said they don't have a specific time set aside to watch TV, with one in ten going for pre-recorded content over live TV, recording the majority (90 percent) of their total viewing.

The study also found that 65 percent of women prefer drama programming, compared to 50 percent of men; 38 percent of women prefer soap operas, compared to just 18 percent of men. More men (33 percent) prefer sci-fi shows compared to women (22 percent).