Sky Launches Free Weekend Pass

Released on: September 18, 2009, 11:40 am
Author: Sky
Industry: Entertainment

Sky has revealed poll results indicating that forgetful Brits spend ONE MONTH of their lives looking for the television remote control. The poll was conducted to coincide with the launch of Sky's Free Weekend Pass.

The Sky Free Weekend Pass means that for the first time ever, from 18th-20th September anyone with Freeview, cable or Sky TV can sample the best of Sky TV on free-to-air channel Sky3, with a range of shows from popular pay TV channels like: Sky1, Sky Sports, MTV, Disney, LIVING, FX, National Geographic Channel, Home, Sky Movies and Sky Arts.

To launch the Free Weekend Pass, Sky polled 4,000 Brits about their remote control habits and found that the average telly viewer loses the zapper an average of 3.2 times a week and spends more than four minutes looking for it each time.

That means each week viewers spend 15 minutes hunting for the pesky little device - nearly 13 hours each year - or 31 DAYS during the average adult lifetime.

Kathryn Drought from Sky's Free Weekend Pass said: "The remote control is such a well-used item in the nation's homes but it's one of those things people are forever trying to find - normally down the back of the sofa.

"The average zapper goes through a lot in its life - from being lost under a table, or in with the kids' toys, to being found in the fridge."

"TV plays such a big part in people's lives, it's not surprising who is in control of the remote is such a hot household topic".

The nationwide survey revealed some remarkable remote control politics that go on inside the typical home.

Careless house-holders have found the missing remote in a variety of places, including down the back of the sofa, under a cushion or seat.

But more unusual spots were also revealed, bizarrely inside the fridge, in the bin, kitchen cupboard or with the kids' toys.

The research found three in ten have hidden the remote from someone else and 17% have thrown it at someone in a fit of 'remote rage'.

Households have argued at least four times in the last month over the remote control, with having to watch football, channel hopping and soaps most likely to spark rifts.

One in five households argue over the remote when someone they can't stand appears on the TV - with Katie Price, Kerry Katona and Victoria Beckham being voted the celebs most likely to make people switch channel.

A whopping 62% said reality TV shows make them change channel. Big Brother was voted the most annoying programme, followed by Jeremy Kyle and X Factor.

Two thirds of respondents said that men are more possessive about the remote than women. And half said they feel much happier when they are in control of the remote.

The poll found Brits watch fours of TV a day, channel-hopping for at least eight minutes every hour.

The typical household has four remotes lying around the house and 60 per cent admit it being the household item they lose the most.

ENDS

About Sky:
Sky is the UK's leading entertainment and communications company, operating the most comprehensive multi-channel television service. Over 9.4 million homes - a third of households across the UK and Ireland - enjoy the entertainment, movies, news and sports channels. In delivering entertainment through the TV, PC and mobile, customers have more control and flexibility over what, how and when they watch. Almost 5.5 million customers now choose Sky+, Sky's digital video recorder, to record and store their favourite programmes and 1.3 million enjoy the picture and sound quality of Sky+HD, which offers 33 dedicated HD channels. Sky is also the UK's fastest growing broadband and fixed-telephony provider with over 2.2 million customers taking Sky Broadband and over 1.8 million customers taking Sky Talk.

Sky PR Contact:
Victoria Etaghene
Sky Consumer PR Executive
British Sky Broadcasting Ltd
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Middlesex
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