Derry families will watch more than an additional five hours of their favourite television programmes during Christmas week, according to new figures released by TV Licensing.
With TV taking centre stage among the tinsel and turkey in homes, TV Lincensing are reminding people of the importance of making sure they can legally watch their festive favourites.
During the festive holidays we squeeze in even more time doing what is arguably the nation’s favourite pastime – watching TV.
During last Christmas, residents of Northern Ireland viewed, on average, 33 hours and 43 minutes of TV – more than five extra hours compared to the national figure of 28 hours for the rest of the year.
Christmas is traditionally the time for special edition episodes of our favoruie shows and when soap and drama story lines reach their climatic peak.
Eastenders famously attracted 30.1 million viewers for the 1986 Christmas Day episode which featured the spectacular break-up of Angie and Den.
The 2001 Christmas Day edition of Only Fools and Horses was watched by an audience of 21.35 million, making it the most viewed programme of the decade.
In 2012, Eastenders again topped the ratings with 9.7 million viewers tuning in on Christmas Day with a further 1.9 million “timeshiftimg” the episode to catch up with the goings-on in Albert Square the following week.
Deborah King, TV licensing spokesperson, said: Christmas is always a great time of year for TV fans with many of our favourite programmes making a festive appearance, not to mention the annual showing of some classic films.
“No matter what you will watch it is important to be aware to be covered by a TV licence to watch or record programmes at the same time as they are shown on TV.
“We would always peter people pay than risk a fine or prosecution and we certainly don’t want people to be starting the New year facing the prop sec tot course and a possible £1,000 fine.”
More than 24,000 people bought or renewed their TV lience over the Christmas Bank Holiday period last year.
