Pete Martin Editor

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Turning off the TV is now easier than ever

A few days ago a friend of mine e-mailed me a link to a Web site for a device called TV-B-Gone, a high-powered universal remote control that will turn off almost any TV.

According to the site, the device is handy in “airports, bars, restaurants, laundromats, etc.” With a simple click of a button a user can turn off these pesky annoyances.

“You can use TV-B-Gone to control access to television for philosophical or practical reasons, or simply to have fun!” says Mitch Altman, inventor of TV-B-Gone and owner of Cornfield Electronics, on his Web site.

Share this idea with your children, and I imagine the response would be total shock and fear. The idea of someone actually wanting to turn off a TV is unfathomable to most children these days.

That, however, is the whole point. Altman feels we watch too much TV. Make time in your life for what you really like, he implores.

“Better yet, please make time to do what you love,” he says. “Wouldn't that be great? Don't know what you love? Try out a few things; see what happens.”

Good advice, indeed — advice I wish I followed more. Not because I watch too much TV, but because — like many Americans — I always seem to be too busy.

I haven’t been caught up in the “American Idol” rage. I don’t watch much sports. And I rarely catch a sitcom. But I do like movies. When I find time to watch TV, I generally will see what’s on HBO or Showtime before I check out the commercial channels.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for many Americans — especially children. Altman’s site has many links to sites dedicated to helping people break their TV addictions. The facts presented, while not always in agreement with each other, are sobering. Think about these figures from The Television Project:

n On average, children ages 2 – 5 years old watch 14 hours of television per week.

n On average, 66 percent of Americans eat dinner in front of the TV.

n When shopping with a parent, on average, children request a brand-named item 13 –18 times.

Another linked site, TV Turnoff Network, even promotes “TV-Turnoff Week” during April. On the site, many alternatives to televised entertainment are suggested.

How many hours of television do your children watch? Ask yourself this question, and write down a number. Then, monitor your children’s TV usage for a week and see if your number was accurate.