What box set are you hoping to get this Christmas? Photograph: Graham Turner
Planning your Christmas viewing? I should here make a pertinent and timely remark about what spectacular to watch - however, I'm writing this in advance, without the benefit of an advance copy of anything that's going to be on over the festive period.
So I can't fake it. And, anyway, it's largely irrelevant, because according to all official thinking on the subject, you won't be watching mainstream telly with your mince pie-stuffed frame wedged into the sofa. Well, not in anything like the numbers you have before. Don't be all smugly nodding and saying, "yes, we spend more time together as a family enjoying each other these days", because that's not true either.
Last year's Christmas ratings were significantly lower than ever before, a trend attributed by analysts to the pinch from digital channels, DVD box sets, interactive games and other such non-traditional sports. It's all to do with choices and fractured experience and niches and long tails. In essence, we would all rather do our own thing than be subject to the eighth Harry Potter movie. Especially for the eighth time.
Let others rail against the decline of the shared viewing experience (I'm certain I've written thousands of words on the subject). For today, we are concerned with the box set phenomenon. How many did you wrap up to put in Santa's sack? How many are you hoping to get? I requested the final season of the West Wing, gave out seasons one and two of the Sopranos and also some ridiculous compilation of the greatest war films ever made (their words not mine), which might not technically be a box set, being as it represents roughly a year of the receiver's life rather than a long weekend.
This being December 20, I can't be sure, but I confidently predict that come Boxing Day, my four-year-old will be insisting on a marathon viewing of her new charming multipack of the collected works of Charlie and Lola. My father will be suggesting that we crack into the West Wing and have a couple before lunch. My brother will be locked in his bedroom being slightly too cool to actually laugh at Green Wing season two (he's 17).
That reminds me. Isn't a Green Wing Christmas special supposed to be on to wrap up the whole lot (Tuesday, January 4)? And a This Life one (January 2)? OK then, box sets down. Back to mainstream television. My mistake.
