How do you watch your favorite tv show(s)

[johns0]

I watch them when they come to blu-ray.

[MOVIEGEEK]

I tape them on my VCR then convert them to VCD.

[yoda313]

Its really a combination. I usually dvr it. On occasion I'll dub it with my hauppauge hd pvr. If its something I've really gotten into I'll buy it on dvd or bluray.

In the last few months I've really been hitting up youtube for a bunch of stuff. Old concerts, tv shows, interviews with stars I like, that kind of stuff. Edit - oh and lots of behind the scenes specials - especially when the dvd I have of a movie or something didn't come with background material.

Oh and I have two web shows I watch on g4tv.com once a week.

[edDV]

I like to watch TV series in sequence. This is best done from Netflix or DVD/BR rental. Some shows don't make sense unless you first watch the pilot and first few episodes that set the plot and background the characters. Other shows carry a serial story (like "24").

A few shows I capture off air at time of broadcast with PVR software. Some shows I like to record in full HD quality off the IEEE-1394 port. Others like news I find SD dvr-ms/wtv adequate.

I keep a Canopus AVDC-100 on the cable box S-Video port to SD cap any cable show regardless of encryption. It will also cap anything off Netflix via BR player.

[usually_quiet]

I watch some shows live. Other shows are recorded with a DVD recorder or with a PC. To some extent I also use the "on demand" listings from my cable provider, or the network's website.

[dragonkeeper]

I record TV shows to PC hard edit commercials and add to HTPC media library. I seldom watch a TV shows in there first season though, most often i wait until a show is finished before i will watch it ( unless it is a huge success). Primary reasons for this are; I like to watch a show all the way through and not wait week to week and the primary reason for this is that so many shows are cancelled after the first season usually with out any type of wrap up.
On a side note my wife is starting to buy into my way of viewing TV shows. Season before last she got hooked on V then ABC cancelled it, and most recently Fox cancelled Terra Nova. So she said she is done trying to watch the weekly TV series she will wait for the series to end then watch.

[edDV]

Amen dragonkeeper. So many shows are cancelled before the plot forms. Waste of time.

I put "LOST" in this category. They never knew where they were going.

[dragonkeeper]

So many shows are cancelled before the plot forms. Waste of time.

I put "LOST" in this category. They never knew where they were going.

Lol I thought i was the only one that did that, I do not see why everyone seemed to love that show. I feel the same as you Lost blurred the lines of pretty much every genre of TV and created a cobbled mess that seem to change direction at the drop of the hat.
Great TV shows have gone the way of the dinosaur I find myself watching more older shows than new shows. As new shows seem to regurgitate whats doing well on another channel. Take "Once Upon a Time" and "Grim" for instance then there was "Game of Thrones" and "Camelot", everybody remembers "Merlin" and "Legend of the Seeker" list goes on forever. Add to this the that the rest of the prime time TV shows seem to be cop shows or some sort of reality TV. TV is just not what it used to be.

Guess that's my rant for today.

[johns0]

TV is just not what it used to be.

People have been saying that for the last 30 years or so.

[dragonkeeper]

TV is just not what it used to be.

People have been saying that for the last 40 years or so.

They may have been saying it but at this point its hard to dispute. How many NCIS shows are on TV now? Reality TV? What the hell, i watch TV to escape reality and add to that a good portion of reality TV is scripted to seem spontaneous. TV has been going donw hill for years but it is definitely much closer to rock bottom these days.
And one of the most annoying things ever is to be watching a show, and they do an overlay to tell you whats coming on next, or not to miss a new episode of "xyz' on Wednesday of next week.

[johns0]

I find that there's more shows i like now a days,but that's just my opinion.

[Beavis]

The big US cable companies have really expanded their free video on-demand offerings. For most popular primetime network shows, they're available from the day after they first air for at least a couple of weeks. Usually no real point in even setting a DVR for those.

[yoda313]

and most recently Fox cancelled Terra Nova.

I read online the other week that they are trying to sell it to somebody. I'm not sure how its produced but they were saying another network could pick it up.

Add to this the that the rest of the prime time TV shows seem to be cop shows or some sort of reality TV.

I've been saying that for a long time too. Don't forget doctor shows. Though I guess with ER's passing that kind of ebbed away a bit but you know what I mean.

And one of the most annoying things ever is to be watching a show, and they do an overlay to tell you whats coming on next, or not to miss a new episode of "xyz' on Wednesday of next week.

I usually don't watch much live prime time tv so I don't know if they do that all the time.

I do notice that watching reruns a lot. I watch a lot of Frasier reruns and they have pop up graphics all the time. Or those annoying faded text boxes they'll leave plastered up there saying this marathon or that special in 12 hours! Fortunately it seems like they don't leave those up constantly but enough to be annoying.

----------

I tend to watch the history channel, discovery, and the food network most. The shows I tend to watch most often are Good Eats, American Pickers, Mythbusters, and Modern Marvels. There are other things here and there of course. A special here a special there. A non series documentary that catches my eye.

And lately I've taken to watching Wheeler Dealers on the Velocity channel.

I am not a car guy exactly. But its fun watching them actually take apart the cars and put them back together. Though I must admit sometimes I need subtitles! I'm getting better but there are times I have no idea what they are talking about. I guess its mostly the "local slang" that I am not getting. For the most part I've gotten hooked

Oh and off and on I'll do This Old House and the Ask This Old House shows. Though it has been awhile since I've watched them.

Edit- also I watch XPLAY on G4 all the time

[Constant Gardener]

I've nearly given up on broadcast TV; mostly watch discs or downloaded stuff. I loathe commercials, logos, crawlers, pop-ups, and similar distractions, and endeavor to avoid them. When I do watch TV, it's with a networked PVR.

[usually_quiet]

I am not happy when a show that I enjoy is abruptly cancelled, but I'd rather watch it while I can than not watch it at all.

I'm not a fan of pop-up ads, or election results, but severe weather alerts could save somebody's life, especially in the US during tornado season.

[jagabo]

I answered "PVR" but I also watch a lot of shows via netflix streaming. And some foreign shows via usenet downloads.

[dragonkeeper]

I've nearly given up on broadcast TV; mostly watch discs or downloaded stuff. I loathe commercials, logos, crawlers, pop-ups, and similar distractions, and endeavor to avoid them.

I totally agree with you. I've actually taken a baseball type approach to broadcast TV, three strikes and you're out. With the cancellation of "V" i no longer watch ABC at all. If NBC cancels another TV show that I'm interested in they will be next. I don't mind the cancellation of the show as much as the fact they make no attempts to wrap up the show before cancelling.

[yoda313]

\as much as the fact they make no attempts to wrap up the show before cancelling

You'd think with dvd/bluray sales and internet video that they would do something more often. You could easily have some kind of hour or half hour wrap to the show and put on a disc or make it an online exclusive. Why they don't do it more often I don't know. Especially while the cast is still under contract and the sets are still up. You could put something together at the last minute before everything is taken down.

Heck even just a little goodbye scene from the cast and crew might be interesting.

THey did a LITTLE something like that with Threshold (fox if i remember right). THey did have interviews with the producers after the show ended so it was like we wanted to go this direction but didn't have the time to do it. I mean something extra would be nice to those that did follow it.

[johns0]

The reason is advertisers and spending a few more dollars,they don't care about the average viewer.

[MOVIEGEEK]

One example of a show that got cancelled that I enjoyed was Man Up on ABC, a funny show that got cancelled without warning. I thought something was up when they ran three new episodes on the same night, I had to go to the Hulu forums to find out what happened. I guess it was too edgy for Disney.

[MJA]

here in IL I just enjoy watching whatever on Me-TV,Me-Too,and Antenna TV .most of the new stuff isn't even worth the electricity that powers my TV.

[_Al_]

here in IL I just enjoy watching whatever on Me-TV,Me-Too,and Antenna TV .most of the new stuff isn't even worth the electricity that powers my TV.

Is't it kind of relief that you can turn that channel on and have little kids in the same room ?
Nowadays you do not know when some bloody vampire will jump on screen , during commercials, anytime on other channels.

Otherwise Netflix. There is old shows too, tons of other contents. As was said above in the discussion, you pickup TV show , you know how many episodes you have, no ads, no surprises.

[MJA]

I have Netflix streaming only.many of the 70's and 80's shows aren't available like threes company,all in the family,,,,

[yoda313]

Nowadays you do not know when some bloody vampire will jump on screen , during commercials, anytime on other channels.

Its not just that what about all the viagra type commercials that pop up? Sheesh.....