With the right channels I regularly discover amazing movies, series and documentaries that I'd probably never choose to watch if I had access to them on a streaming platform (which I don't).
The surprise effect is way better and I just think that when used wisely, TV can deliver much more than streaming.
I'm aware of platforms like FilmIn that offer non-commercial content but I still like the channels to suggest me some tmovies to watch.
My kids will never know the experience of getting up at 6:00 AM every Saturday to watch Saturday morning cartoons. I also discovered some of my favorite movies while randomly watching late night movies when I couldn't sleep.
But I do not miss commercials one bit.
There's something to be said for the shared experience of watching something, not because you've individually chosen it, but because it's the thing that's on. A 5/10 movie becomes a 7/10 if you limit your options right down.
My favourite experience of watching a film on telly was for Audition (the Takashi Miike film), where, at the end of each ad break, the continuity announcer was advising, with increasing seriousness, that we should stop watching. I would've slept better if I'd listened.
Lool that's a good one! That's a name I haven't heard in ages, I actually remember downloading this movie as a teenager, I loved it and went on watching a few more from Miike, namely ichi the killer and Visitor Q which messed me up pretty badly but I don't think as much as Audition though.
Btw I've never heard of a channel putting on Miike's films, was this in the UK?
I find myself flipping on PlutoTV a lot for just this reason. It's cozy to just channel surf, and their lineup (e.g. 24/7 Price is Right, Jeopardy, MST3K, and tons of other classics) makes it feel doubly cozy. Like a portal straight back to 90s cable, but free.