--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Television’s appeal is apparent from the…" description: "\"“Television’s appeal is apparent from the steady increase in the average amount of time spent watching television in America, from four and a half hour..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/tom-standage-21003_television_television-s-appeal-is-apparent-from-the_1830136.jpg" --- # Television’s appeal is apparent from the steady increase… ![“Television’s appeal is apparent from the steady increase in the average amount of time spent watching television in America, from four and a half hours a day in 1950 to five hours in 1960, six hours in 1970, and seven hours in 1990. As the number of homes with multiple screens increased, and cable…” quote by Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/tom-standage-21003_television_television-s-appeal-is-apparent-from-the_1830136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/tom-standage-21003_television_television-s-appeal-is-apparent-from-the_1830136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/tom-standage-21003_television_television-s-appeal-is-apparent-from-the_1830136.jpg) > ““Television’s appeal is apparent from the steady increase in the average amount of time spent watching television in America, from four and a half hours a day in 1950 to five hours in 1960, six hours in 1970, and seven hours in 1990. As the number of homes with multiple screens increased, and cable and satellite television provided dozens and then hundreds of channels to choose from, the number of hours watched increased still further, exceeding eight hours a day in the early twenty-first century.”” [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how television consumption grew as technology and channel choices expanded, leading to increasingly long viewing times. **In simple terms:** TV watching grew with more channels and screens. Key Takeaway Recognize media habits and set limits. Themes media consumption technology culture habit time management Mood reflective concerned Type observational analytical When to use this quote - family dinner - personal leisure - work breaks - education - social gatherings Key Concepts broadcast evolution choice overload screen addiction Questions to Reflect On - How has your daily screen time changed? - What activities could replace excess TV? A Different Perspective More screens can fragment attention and reduce deep engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Watching television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watching-television/) ## Related quotes > [Television in America is so elaborate. There are so many remote cranes, and they have all the toys to play with. The directors are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franka-potente/television-in-america-is-so-elaborate-there-are-so-many-remote-cranes/) [Franka Potente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franka-potente/) > [“I feel like my takeaway from tonight is that it's okay to love shitty television, provided that you make an effort to appreciate other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/i-feel-like-my-takeaway-from-tonight-is-that-it-s-okay-to-love-shitty/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [Today, children are watching more and more television, and are bombarded over and over with images and content that have the potential to dramatically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-murphy/today-children-are-watching-more-and-more-television-and-are/) [Tim Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-murphy/) > [There are times it's the only thing I want and I wonder how I'll ever go back to the world of noise and distraction.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lange/there-are-times-it-s-the-only-thing-i-want-and-i-wonder-how-i-ll-ever/) [Eric Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lange/) > [When your girl talk, pay attention to what she is saying. Don't just nod your head and continue watching television...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher-mazher50/when-your-girl-talk-pay-attention-to-what-she-is-saying-don-t-just/) Mazher (@mazher50 > [There is a difference. You watch television, you don't witness it. But, while watching television, if you start witnessing yourself watching television, then there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/there-is-a-difference-you-watch-television-you-don-t-witness-it-but/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Amount of time an American child spends watching television, annually: 1,500 hours. Amount of time an American child spends in school, annually: 900 hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-strupp/amount-of-time-an-american-child-spends-watching-television-annually/) Peter Strupp > [I realise how important it is to use the time I have. I respect people who want to do that by watching television. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-realise-how-important-it-is-to-use-the-time-i-have-i-respect-people/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [If you can deal with hot emotions, then you can study for the S.A.T. instead of watching television, and you can save more money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mischel/if-you-can-deal-with-hot-emotions-then-you-can-study-for-the-s-a-t/) [Walter Mischel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mischel/) > [When I'm watching television or a movie, I like to see stories that are extraordinary. I don't need it be something that is, 'Well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-kirk/when-i-m-watching-television-or-a-movie-i-like-to-see-stories-that/) [Justin Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-kirk/) > [The only big ideas I've ever had came from daydreaming, but modern life keeps people from daydreaming. Every moment of the day your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-maccready/the-only-big-ideas-i-ve-ever-had-came-from-daydreaming-but-modern/) [Paul MacCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-maccready/) > [I've always felt that kids are a lot smarter than we've given them credit for, but we've never given them a chance to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genndy-tartakovsky/i-ve-always-felt-that-kids-are-a-lot-smarter-than-we-ve-given-them/) [Genndy Tartakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genndy-tartakovsky/) > [I grew up watching television. I'm a television addict. I had all these heroes, but they didn't look like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/i-grew-up-watching-television-i-m-a-television-addict-i-had-all-these/) [Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/) > [I don't like going to football games. I like watching them on television. When you go to a game, it's hard to focus. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-don-t-like-going-to-football-games-i-like-watching-them-on/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [My friends and I would get up early and take our horses through the national forest. My mom was very free. It was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-torv/my-friends-and-i-would-get-up-early-and-take-our-horses-through-the/) [Anna Torv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-torv/) ## More by Tom Standage > [By tracing the careers of the four members of the Philosophical Breakfast Club, Laura Snyder has found a wonderful way not just to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/by-tracing-the-careers-of-the-four-members-of-the-philosophical/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“... civilization—a word that simply means "living in cities..." Excerpt From: Standage, Tom. “A History of the World In 6 Glasses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/civilization-a-word-that-simply-means-living-in-cities-excerpt-from/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“A billion hours ago, human life appeared on earth. A billion minutes ago, Christianity emerged. A billion seconds ago, the Beatles changed music. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/a-billion-hours-ago-human-life-appeared-on-earth-a-billion-minutes/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“Stronger! stronger! grow they all, Who for Coca-Cola call. Brighter! brighter! thinkers think, When they Coca-Cola drink. —Coca-Cola advertising slogan, 1896”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/stronger-stronger-grow-they-all-who-for-coca-cola-call-brighter/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“But an oft-heard complaint, as companies spread their tentacles around the world and compete on a global playing field, is that globalization is merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/but-an-oft-heard-complaint-as-companies-spread-their-tentacles-around/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“...people enjoy being able to articulate their interests and define themselves by selectively compiling and resharing content created by others”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/people-enjoy-being-able-to-articulate-their-interests-and-define/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“Coffeehouses were centers of self-education, literary and philosophical speculation, commercial innovation, and, in some cases, political fermentation. But above all they were clearinghouses for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/coffeehouses-were-centers-of-self-education-literary-and/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“The inclusion of lemon or lime juice in grog, made compulsory in 1795, therefore reduced the incidence of scurvy dramatically. And since beer contains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/the-inclusion-of-lemon-or-lime-juice-in-grog-made-compulsory-in-1795/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“such a social-media environment; it is merely the most recent and most efficient way that humans have found to scratch a prehistoric itch. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/such-a-social-media-environment-it-is-merely-the-most-recent-and-most/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“John Adams, by then one of the country's founding fathers, wrote to a friend: "I know not why we should blush to confess that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/john-adams-by-then-one-of-the-country-s-founding-fathers-wrote-to-a/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“This original version of Coca-Cola contained a small amount of coca extract and therefore a trace of cocaine. (It was eliminated early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/this-original-version-of-coca-cola-contained-a-small-amount-of-coca/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“An enormous semiofficial drug-smuggling operation was established in order to improve Britain's unfavorable balance of payments with China—the direct result of the British love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/an-enormous-semiofficial-drug-smuggling-operation-was-established-in/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [The Arabs understandably did everything they could to protect their monopoly. Coffee beans were treated before being shipped to ensure they were sterile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/the-arabs-understandably-did-everything-they-could-to-protect-their/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“Ten years after the Boston Tea Party, tea was still far more popular than coffee, which only became the more popular drink in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/ten-years-after-the-boston-tea-party-tea-was-still-far-more-popular/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [“Illness and death are not the only consequences of the lack of access to water; it also hinders education and economic development. Widespread illness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/illness-and-death-are-not-the-only-consequences-of-the-lack-of-access/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) [Explore all 30 Tom Standage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) ## More Television quotes > [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/) [George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/) > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Some television programs are so much chewing gum for the eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mason-brown/some-television-programs-are-so-much-chewing-gum-for-the-eyes/) [John Mason Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mason-brown/) > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [I'm very proud of some of the stories I've been given thanks to the team at 'Emmerdale,' they've been great over the years so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-fletcher/i-m-very-proud-of-some-of-the-stories-i-ve-been-given-thanks-to-the/) [Kelvin Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-fletcher/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [So many times in television, you get cancelled arbitrarily as a result of your ratings in the off season, and you don't have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-wyle/so-many-times-in-television-you-get-cancelled-arbitrarily-as-a-result/) [Noah Wyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-wyle/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [It is extremely difficult to do anything constructive, let alone deep, on daily commercial television, especially on a talk show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/it-is-extremely-difficult-to-do-anything-constructive-let-alone-deep/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [My first match was on television with no buffer, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I feel like I've learned faster than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-rhodes/my-first-match-was-on-television-with-no-buffer-but-i-wouldn-t-have/) [Brandi Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-rhodes/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [Television's perfect. 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