Watch what you want but..............

DH controls the remote. As soon as a programme ends he turns over to another one; it doesn’t bother him that we have 20 mins of Midsomer before tuning into the main programme we want to watch eg Endeavour, then back to Midsomer, or whatever. They are nearly all repeats for the umpteenth time anyway, but he doesn’t remember them because he sleeps through most of them anyway, until I try to change channel!
Occasionally we watch something new and really good eg the A word, but whereas there are documentaries that I would enjoy he prefers endless antiques. More repeats.
We do have a TV in the kitchen but I don’t want to sit on a hard chair to watch it. He hates the news, I have just asked him to wait until a short news bulletin ended and he didn’t like it. He likes to be in control. That is my conclusion.

If we don't want to watch the same thing DH watched his thing on his laptop and earphones. Perfick.

My husband thinks there are too many cooking programmes and I think there are too many televised sporting events. Aside from those we are pretty much at one with what we watch, although these days we can all watch things individually on our lap tops/tablet so it isn't an issue. I do get out of the room if golf is on though thank God that's not too often!

We don't have 2 TVs but we do have 2 Sky remotes. We tend to agree on programmes up to 7 (Pointless and news if we are not busy doing something else) then 7-9 is my choice and he decides from 9 on. Over the years that has meant that he actually gets quite involved in soaps and Sewing Bee etc and if I get fed up with constant Newsnight later, I go of to bed with a book.

It works quite well for us, although he does constantly expect me to know all the soap back history and also repeat all conversations that he hasn't heard properly. My main bone of contention is 2 seconds into a trailer for a new comedy and he will say "Thanks for warning us about that!" Every time!! Puts me off trying new stuff as I know he will be hating it from the start, but I do pick up things like that on my laptop in bed if I fancy it.

Watch it on a laptop with earphones but honestly if someone thinks it’s OK to watch their program but then refuse to let a partner watch theirs they are used to getting their own way for too long.

Luckily DH and I tend to like the same things on telly, but if there's something that appeals to only one of us we decide to either not bother or we happily watch it together. Or maybe one of us will read or listen to music in another room, or have a soak in the bath. Never have tv arguments.

My DH has spent more time watching WW2 programs than the war was on for.
I'm sure I don't need to say more.

I got Sky go on my phone so i can sit in my room and watch what I want. Any time I watch the tv in the living room I get snarky comments on my progs. When his progs annoyed me I used to just leave the room

[Lyndylou] I like your system. We don't have any 'habit' execpt that by 9 we just want something to relax. So if we can't find a drama/comedy we fancy its out with the old DVDs. (Blot on the Landscape at the moment).

We used to both watch together for years, but our tastes are very, very different. His are endless Startrek, aircrash investigations (often just before a holiday abroad!) and how it's made, or similar. I would often sit and read at same time.

Then he wanted a new flat screen TV, so I laid claim to the old fashioned TV. We went mad and paid for 2 rooms on Sky so I can record all "my" programmes. We are lucky and have a small second sitting room, but if not I'd use a bedroom. I just love having my own choices. Wonderful. He'll say if there's something we'd both like, so we both watch together still occasionally.

However on lockdown I am watching less, as there is not much that appeals. I get Netflix on my laptop thanks to my son, and do other things.

Mine puts what he wants on, watches it for 5 or 10 minutes, then goes and makes a 'phone call... The 'phone calls typically last anything from 15 minutes to an hour. Doesn't bother me any more.

My husband tends to control what we watch on tv. I like quiz shows such as Richard Osman's House of Games, University Challenge and Only Connect. I watch those and he goes and reads or does something else while they are on. I have got him interested in Sewing Bee, to which he remarks, "why am I watching this".
He likes travel shows, and those interminable railway journeys. He also watches all the gardening shows, (I dont mind those).

My OH is a fanatical sports watcher, also anything to do with house buying or fixing up old cars so he has a tv in the conservatory. He also watches comedies, none of which I find funny.
We can still wave or speak to each other from our separate rooms and occasionally watch something together.

We have one tv, my husband has the remote but he will flick through the Chanel’s and ask me if I see anything I like. If I know something is coming on I particularly want to watch I will let him know. If he is watching something I am not interested in I play my iPad or watch a movie on it. I would not go in another room, we like to spend our evenings together.

One of the upsides of living alone is that I can watch whatever I like. Yippee!

Never understood why people have to watch same programs together. Why on earth would he want to watch a sewing program,no more than you’d like sport or car program. Just get another tv... much easier peaceful happier way of life.

You are not alone, I don't see the remotes all evening, awkward when Mrs S falls asleep and "hides" them. Our TV doesn't seem to have channels above 5. We never watch dramas, "we watch and like" Sewing Bee, Pottery great throwdown etc worse is X Factor, if I never saw or heard any of them again, happy. As to separate TV's, Mrs S doesn't like that idea. Back to Youtube subscriptions and headphones.

It must have been a day for watching tv hassles. I usually let my OH watch endless repeats practically on a loop, but between 7-9pm he goes into his shed and I get the controls. He came in at 8.45 and moans at me for watching BGT which was nearly finished. I didn't like the last act so looked for something else that he would like too. He didn't like anything so I put on the last bit of a Queen concert. He storms off 'to have a bath', makes rude comments to me later on and hasn't spoken to me since. He also hasn't moved from the sofa since then, watching endless repeats of Father Brown. I was word perfect in them before this too! This is why I usually stay in another room on the computer, and he thinks I'm unsociable.

Although I think I watch more of my programmes, he does watch his as I do my jigsaw, colouring. Chat to friends and family. But the evenings we try to find something we both like, thank goodness for Netflix. We can always find something on there to watch

A close friend’s dh invariably had control of what to watch, and the TV remote. He would sit on his throne (the only really comfortable chair in their sitting room) with the remote firmly grasped in his hand.

He would frequently nod off, but if anyone tried, however gently, to remove the remote, his grasp would tighten to an iron grip!
When staying there I would often fake tiredness and go early to bed (where there was a TV in the room ?) since the programmes he liked were so often ones I’d never choose in a month of Sundays.

SueW11 that’s my DH too and I also know far more about the American Civil War than is necessary.
I put his programs on to record via my phone, then as soon as he dozes off I flick over to something I like. Since I’ve been doing jigsaws again TV bothers me less.

OP doesn’t need TV in other/spare room. Her OH does
Mine has been introduced to the fact he can use his iPad for catch up, Netflix etc.
He dominates our only TV as is so when there is something I really want to watch then he doesn’t mind. Currently the Hay Festival Digital.
He decided though to watch one event with me - revelation, he knows loads about Greek Mythology, Troy and so on which I never knew! Sorry digression but it does show that there are things you could both enjoy ? BTW my OH likes The Chase - I have to leave the room.....

Witzend if your friend has Sky, she could download the Sky app onto her Smartphone. It links then to the Sky box and becomes a remote. If her OH is watching/sleeping through the Sky box she can change channels, go to planner record etc through the phone. Also works if you are in another room - great fun to change an action film over to QVC for a wind up. (OH does see the funny side now).

For those who can't put a second TV into another room, or don't want to (some of us actually like sitting in the same room with our other halves, watching a TV programme - but not if it is always the one they chose ) then start a quiet campaign.

Spend a week amassing data. Rule a sheet of paper into four columns. First column - date and time. Second - his progs. Third - her progs. Fourth - derogatory remarks by the other person, or the action they take (leaving the room etc.). Whenever the TV is turned on, make a note of what is watched,, when, and whose choice it was, plus the reaction of the other person - your own reaction too, of course.

After a week you will have a pattern emerging on which to base a "conversation" about how to even up your viewing hours, and also about how someone else's choices should be treated. The evidence will be in your hand, so it isn't just a whinge. Good luck!

Tablet and headphones Trish