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TV sales fell for the first time ever in U.K. (11th December, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A new report from Britain shows that things are not looking good for companies who sell televisions. The number of U.K. homes with a TV fell last year for the first time ever. The report is from an organization called Ofcom, which studies business, habits and trends in Britain. It said that after decades of television sales increasing, things are now moving in the opposite direction. Ofcom found that the number of homes with a TV fell from 26.33 million at the end of 2012 to 26.02 million at the end of the following year. This is a drop of 300,000. The first survey on TV ownership in Britain was in 1956. Then, just over 30 per cent of homes had a TV. This figure rose to around 93 per cent by the 1970s.

Ofcom said the fall in TV ownership in Britain was probably because of people using tablets, mobile phones and other devices to watch TV. Many people nowadays are choosing to watch 'catch-up' TV, whereby they record their favourite programmes and watch them later on their digital devices. Ofcom said catch-up TV is becoming increasingly popular and is being watched on smartphones, tablets, computers and games consoles. Figures from the BBC showed that 47 per cent of requests for its iPlayer service came from tablets or mobiles, up from just 25 per cent in October 2012. In the 18-24 age group, 15 per cent watch most of their television on a laptop, compared to the national average of 3 per cent.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/08/number-uk-homes-tv-falls-first-time-ofcom
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30392654
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a615396/number-of-uk-households-with-a-tv-falls-for-the-first-time.html

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. TELEVISION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about television. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

report / homes / business / habits / trends / decades / drop / TV ownership / figure / tablets / mobile phones / nowadays / favourite programmes / popular / laptop

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. DIGITAL DEVICES: How important are they to you and how can companies make them better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Importance?	Improvements?
Laptops
Smart phones
Tablets
Games consoles
Televisions
Other _________

4. TV: Students A strongly believe TV is the greatest invention ever; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. SHOWS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best shows at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• comedy

• documentary

• cooking

• weather

• sport

• business

• drama

• movies

6. TABLETS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "tablets". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	The number of U.K. homes fell last year for the first time ever.	T / F
b.	The report on TV sales is from a group of TV makers.	T / F
c.	There were more than 26 million homes with a TV in the UK in 2012.	T / F
d.	In 1956, around a third of UK homes had a television.	T / F
e.	An organization blamed digital devices for the fall in TV sales.	T / F
f.	Many people in the UK watch 'catch-up TV' on their digital devices.	T / F
g.	Fewer people are using tablets to watch BBC's iPlayer.	T / F
h.	Around 15% of British people watch TV on their laptop computer.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	report	a.	due to
2.	fell	b.	number
3.	increasing	c.	shows
4.	moving	d.	rising
5.	figure	e.	decreased
6.	because of	f.	category
7.	programmes	g.	countrywide
8.	increasingly	h.	study
9.	group	i.	more and more
10.	national	j.	heading

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	things are not looking	a.	nowadays
2.	things are now moving in	b.	by the 1970s
3.	This is a drop	c.	just 25 per cent in October
4.	The first survey on TV	d.	group
5.	This figure rose to around 93 per cent	e.	of 300,000
6.	people	f.	good for companies
7.	catch-up TV is becoming	g.	average of 3 per cent
8.	up from	h.	ownership
9.	the 18-24 age	i.	increasingly popular
10.	compared to the national	j.	the opposite direction

GAP FILL

A new report from Britain shows that (1) ____________ are not looking good for companies who sell televisions. The number of U.K. homes with a TV fell last year for the first time (2) ____________. The report is from an organization called Ofcom, which studies business, habits and (3) ____________ in Britain. It said that after decades of television sales increasing, things are now moving in the (4) ____________ direction. Ofcom found that the number of homes with a TV fell from 26.33 million at the (5) ____________ of 2012 to 26.02 million at the end of the following year. This is a (6) ____________ of 300,000. The first (7) ____________ on TV ownership in Britain was in 1956. Then, just over 30 per cent of homes had a TV. This (8) ____________ rose to around 93 per cent by the 1970s.

end
trends
figure
things
survey
opposite
ever
drop

Ofcom said the fall in TV (9) ____________ in Britain was probably because of people using tablets, mobile phones and other (10) ____________ to watch TV. Many people (11) ____________ are choosing to watch 'catch-up' TV, whereby they record their favourite programmes and watch them (12) ____________ on their digital devices. Ofcom said catch-up TV is becoming (13) ____________ popular and is being watched on smartphones, tablets, computers and games consoles. Figures from the BBC showed that 47 per cent of (14) ____________ for its iPlayer service came from tablets or mobiles, up from just 25 per cent in October 2012. In the 18-24 age (15) ____________, 15 per cent watch most of their television on a laptop, compared to the national (16) ____________ of 3 per cent.

requests
average
devices
later
ownership
group
nowadays
increasingly

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	A new report from Britain shows that things are not looking ______
	a. good from companies b. good for companies c. good of companies d. good four companies
2)	an organization called Ofcom, which studies business, ______
	a. habits and trends b. habits and friends c. habits and blends d. habits and tends
3)	after decades of television sales increasing, things are now moving ______ direction
	a. on the opposite b. to the opposite c. at the opposite d. in the opposite
4)	The first survey on TV ownership in Britain ______
	a. was in 1958 b. was in 1966 c. was in 1956 d. was in 1965
5)	This figure rose to around 93 per cent ______
	a. by the 1917s b. in the 1970s c. in the 1917s d. by the 1970s
6)	because of people using tablets, mobile phones and other devices ______
	a. to watches TV b. to watch TV c. to watching TV d. to watched TV
7)	they record their favourite programmes and watch them later ______ devices
	a. in their digital b. on their digital c. an their digital d. of their digital
8)	being watched on smartphones, tablets, computers ______
	a. and games console b. and games consolers c. and games con souls d. and games consoles
9)	In the 18-24 age group, 15 per cent watch most of their television ______
	a. in a laptop b. on a laptop c. on the laptop d. in the laptop
10)	compared to the national ______ per cent
	a. average of 3 b. average for 3 c. average at 3 d. average by 3

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A new report from Britain shows (1) ___________________ not looking good for companies who sell televisions. The number of U.K. homes with a TV fell last year for (2) ___________________. The report is from an organization called Ofcom, which studies business, (3) ___________________ in Britain. It said that after decades of television sales increasing, things are now moving in (4) ___________________. Ofcom found that the number of homes with a TV fell from 26.33 million at the end of 2012 to 26.02 million at the end of the following year. This (5) ___________________. The first survey on TV ownership in Britain was in 1956. Then, just over 30 per cent of homes had a TV. This figure (6) ___________________ 93 per cent by the 1970s.

Ofcom said (7) ___________________ ownership in Britain was probably because of people using tablets, mobile phones and other devices to watch TV. Many people (8) ___________________ choosing to watch 'catch-up' TV, whereby they record their favourite programmes and watch them later on (9) ___________________. Ofcom said catch-up TV is becoming increasingly popular (10) ___________________ watched on smartphones, tablets, computers and games consoles. Figures from the BBC showed that 47 per cent of requests for its iPlayer (11) ___________________ tablets or mobiles, up from just 25 per cent in October 2012. In the 18-24 age group, 15 per cent watch most of their television on a laptop, compared to the national (12) ___________________.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	For whom does a report say things are not looking good?
2.	What does Ofcom study?
3.	Where are TV sales now heading, according to Ofcom?
4.	By how much did the number of homes with TVs fall in 2013?
5.	When was the first survey on TV ownership in Britain?
6.	What did Ofcom say was the reason for the fall in TV ownership?
7.	What kind of TV are people choosing to watch?
8.	How many requests for the BBC iPlayer come from tablets and phones?
9.	Who watches 15% of their TV on laptops?
10.	What is the national average for people to watch TV on a laptop?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	For whom does a report say things are not looking good?	6.	What did Ofcom say was the reason for the fall in TV ownership?
	a) TV makers b) actors c) people with homes d) Internet companies		a) people b) money c) the Internet d) digital devices
2.	What does Ofcom study?	7.	What kind of TV are people choosing to watch?
	a) businesses, rabbits and friends b) society, relations and hobbies c) business, habits and trends d) societies, relationships and interests		a) dramas b) catch-up TV c) reality TV d) square ones
3.	Where are TV sales now heading, according to Ofcom?	8.	How many requests for the BBC iPlayer come from tablets and phones?
	a) west b) downwards c) into the black d) home		a) 44% b) 45% c) 46% d) 47%
4.	By how much did the number of homes with TVs fall in 2013?	9.	Who watches 15% of their TV on laptops?
	a) 333,000 b) 300,333 c) 300,003 d) 300,000		a) 16-24-year-olds b) 18-74-year-olds c) 18-24-year-olds d) 16-74-year-olds
5.	When was the first survey on TV ownership in Britain?	10.	What is the national average for people to watch TV on a laptop?
	a) 1956 b) 1958 c) 1985 d) 1965		a) 2.5% b) 3% c) 3.25% d) 4%

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Comedies

You think comedies are the best shows on TV. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the most boring of these (and why): documentaries, movies or cooking shows.

Role B – Documentaries

You think documentaries are the best shows on TV. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the most boring of these (and why): comedies, movies or cooking shows.

Role C – Movies

You think movies are the best shows on TV. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the most boring of these (and why): documentaries, comedies or cooking shows.

Role D – Cooking shows

You think cooking shows are the best shows on TV. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the most boring of these (and why): documentaries, movies or comedies.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'digital' and 'device'.

digital

device

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

new
ever
habits
fell
1956
93

because
nowadays
later
games
service
3

TELEVISION SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about television in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

TELEVISION DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'television'?
3)	How important is television to you?
4)	What are your favourite programmes (and why)?
5)	What kind of TV would you like?
6)	What's the maximum number of hours you should watch TV?
7)	What are the bad things about television?
8)	What's the best TV show ever?
9)	How surprised are you that TV sales are falling in the UK?
10)	What would you do without TV?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Would society be better without TV?
13)	What features do you really need on a television?
14)	Is it better to watch shows on a TV or on a tablet?
15)	What are the good things about television?
16)	What do you think of TV shows from the USA?
17)	What size TV would you like (and why)?
18)	What useful things could you do if you didn't watch TV?
19)	Does TV kill conversation?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A (1) ____ report from Britain shows that things are not looking good for companies who sell televisions. The (2) ____ of U.K. homes with a TV fell last year for the first time ever. The report is from an organization called Ofcom, (3) ____ studies business, habits and trends in Britain. It said that after decades (4) ____ television sales increasing, things are now moving in the opposite direction. Ofcom found that the number of homes with a TV fell from 26.33 million at the end of 2012 to 26.02 million at the end of the (5) ____ year. This is a drop of 300,000. The first survey (6) ____ TV ownership in Britain was in 1956. Then, just over 30 per cent of homes had a TV. This figure rose to around 93 per cent by the 1970s.

Ofcom said the fall in TV ownership in Britain was (7) ____ because of people using tablets, mobile phones and other devices to watch TV. Many people (8) ____ are choosing to watch 'catch-up' TV, whereby they record their favourite programmes and watch them later on their digital devices. Ofcom said catch-up TV is becoming (9) ____ popular and is being watched on smartphones, tablets, computers and games consoles. Figures from the BBC showed that 47 per cent of requests for its iPlayer service came from tablets or mobiles, (10) ____ from just 25 per cent in October 2012. In the 18-24 age group, 15 per cent watch most of their television (11) ____ a laptop, compared (12) ____ the national average of 3 per cent.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	new	(b)	newish	(c)	newly	(d)	newest
2.	(a)	numeral	(b)	numbers	(c)	number	(d)	numbering
3.	(a)	it	(b)	that	(c)	which	(d)	they
4.	(a)	on	(b)	by	(c)	for	(d)	of
5.	(a)	following	(b)	follows	(c)	followed	(d)	followers
6.	(a)	to	(b)	on	(c)	in	(d)	at
7.	(a)	risky	(b)	chance	(c)	likelihood	(d)	probably
8.	(a)	todays	(b)	nowadays	(c)	days	(d)	daze
9.	(a)	increase	(b)	increases	(c)	increasingly	(d)	increased
10.	(a)	above	(b)	higher	(c)	increase	(d)	up
11.	(a)	of	(b)	by	(c)	in	(d)	on
12.	(a)	on	(b)	to	(c)	by	(d)	as

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	business, habits and tsrnde in Britain
2.	after sdcaeed of television sales
3.	moving in the episotpo direction
4.	The first evruys
5.	TV wnrphioes
6.	This uifgre rose to around 93 per cent
Paragraph 2
7.	yblobapr because of people using tablets
8.	mobile phones and other svdceei
9.	record their toraievuf programmes
10.	becoming increasingly laouppr
11.	47 per cent of ssreteuq
12.	the national eaevagr of 3 per cent

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	direction. Ofcom found that the number of homes with a TV fell from 26.33 million at the end of 2012 to 26.02 million
( )	using tablets, mobile phones and other devices to watch TV. Many people nowadays are choosing to
( )	tablets, computers and games consoles. Figures from the BBC showed that 47 per cent of requests for
( )	decades of television sales increasing, things are now moving in the opposite
( )	called Ofcom, which studies business, habits and trends in Britain. It said that after
( )	at the end of the following year. This is a drop of 300,000. The first survey on TV ownership in Britain was in
( )	age group, 15 per cent watch most of their television on a laptop, compared to the national average of 3 per cent.
( )	its iPlayer service came from tablets or mobiles, up from just 25 per cent in October 2012. In the 18-24
( 1 )	A new report from Britain shows that things are not looking good for companies who sell televisions. The number
( )	watch 'catch-up' TV, whereby they record their favourite programmes and watch them later on their digital
( )	Ofcom said the fall in TV ownership in Britain was probably because of people
( )	of U.K. homes with a TV fell last year for the first time ever. The report is from an organization
( )	devices. Ofcom said catch-up TV is becoming increasingly popular and is being watched on smartphones,
( )	1956. Then, just over 30 per cent of homes had a TV. This figure rose to around 93 per cent by the 1970s.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	not are Things companies for good looking.
2.	of number The year last fell TV a with homes UK.
3.	Things the are opposite now direction moving in.
4.	a The with million from fell homes of 26.33 TV number.
5.	first The 1956 in was Britain in ownership TV on survey.
6.	choosing 'catch-up' TV are watch nowadays to People.
7.	favourite later programmes and Record watch their them.
8.	popular Ofcom said catch-up TV is becoming increasingly.
9.	service Requests came for from its tablets iPlayer.
10.	the of cent to average per Compared national 3.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A new report from Britain showing / shows that things are not looking good for companies who sell televisions. The number for / of U.K. homes with a TV fell last year for the first time even / ever. The report is from an organization called / calling Ofcom, which studies business, habits and trends / trendy in Britain. It said that after decades / decade of television sales increasing, things are now moving in the opposition / opposite direction. Ofcom found that the number of homes with a / the TV fell from 26.33 million at the end of 2012 to 26.02 million at the end of the following year. This is a drop for / of 300,000. The first survey on TV ownership in Britain was in 1956. Then, just over 30 per cent of homes had a TV. This figure rose / rise to around 93 per cent by the 1970s.

Ofcom said the fall / fail in TV ownership in Britain was probably because for / of people using tablets, mobile phones and other / another devices to watch TV. Many people nowadays are chosen / choosing to watch 'catch-up' TV, whereby they record their / them favourite programmes and watch them later on their digital / digitally devices. Ofcom said catch-up TV is becoming increasingly popular and is being / been watched on smartphones, tablets, computers and games consoles. Figures from the BBC showed / shows that 47 per cent of requests for its iPlayer service came from tablets or mobiles, up from adjust / just 25 per cent in October 2012. In the 18-24 age group, 15 per cent watch most of their television on / in a laptop, compared to the national average of 3 per cent.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

_ n_w r_p_rt fr_m Br_t__n sh_ws th_t th_ngs _r_ n_t l__k_ng g__d f_r c_mp_n__s wh_ s_ll t_l_v_s__ns. Th_ n_mb_r _f _.K. h_m_s w_th _ TV f_ll l_st y__r f_r th_ f_rst t_m_ _v_r. Th_ r_p_rt _s fr_m _n _rg_n_z_t__n c_ll_d _fc_m, wh_ch st_d__s b_s_n_ss, h_b_ts _nd tr_nds _n Br_t__n. _t s__d th_t _ft_r d_c_d_s _f t_l_v_s__n s_l_s _ncr__s_ng, th_ngs _r_ n_w m_v_ng _n th_ _pp_s_t_ d_r_ct__n. _fc_m f__nd th_t th_ n_mb_r _f h_m_s w_th _ TV f_ll fr_m 26.33 m_ll__n _t th_ _nd _f 2012 t_ 26.02 m_ll__n _t th_ _nd _f th_ f_ll_w_ng y__r. Th_s _s _ dr_p _f 300,000. Th_ f_rst s_rv_y _n TV _wn_rsh_p _n Br_t__n w_s _n 1956. Th_n, j_st _v_r 30 p_r c_nt _f h_m_s h_d _ TV. Th_s f_g_r_ r_s_ t_ _r__nd 93 p_r c_nt by th_ 1970s.

_fc_m s__d th_ f_ll _n TV _wn_rsh_p _n Br_t__n w_s pr_b_bly b_c__s_ _f p__pl_ _s_ng t_bl_ts, m_b_l_ ph_n_s _nd _th_r d_v_c_s t_ w_tch TV. M_ny p__pl_ n_w_d_ys _r_ ch__s_ng t_ w_tch 'c_tch-_p' TV, wh_r_by th_y r_c_rd th__r f_v__r_t_ pr_gr_mm_s _nd w_tch th_m l_t_r _n th__r d_g_t_l d_v_c_s. _fc_m s__d c_tch-_p TV _s b_c_m_ng _ncr__s_ngly p_p_l_r _nd _s b__ng w_tch_d _n sm_rtph_n_s, t_bl_ts, c_mp_t_rs _nd g_m_s c_ns_l_s. F_g_r_s fr_m th_ BBC sh_w_d th_t 47 p_r c_nt _f r_q__sts f_r _ts _Pl_y_r s_rv_c_ c_m_ fr_m t_bl_ts _r m_b_l_s, _p fr_m j_st 25 p_r c_nt _n _ct_b_r 2012. _n th_ 18-24 _g_ gr__p, 15 p_r c_nt w_tch m_st _f th__r t_l_v_s__n _n _ l_pt_p, c_mp_r_d t_ th_ n_t__n_l _v_r_g_ _f 3 p_r c_nt.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a new report from britain shows that things are not looking good for companies who sell televisions the number of uk homes with a tv fell last year for the first time ever the report is from an organization called ofcom which studies business habits and trends in britain it said that after decades of television sales increasing things are now moving in the opposite direction ofcom found that the number of homes with a tv fell from 2633 million at the end of 2012 to 2602 million at the end of the following year this is a drop of 300000 the first survey on tv ownership in britain was in 1956 then just over 30 per cent of homes had a tv this figure rose to around 93 per cent by the 1970s

ofcom said the fall in tv ownership in britain was probably because of people using tablets mobile phones and other devices to watch tv many people nowadays are choosing to watch 'catch-up' tv whereby they record their favourite programmes and watch them later on their digital devices ofcom said catch-up tv is becoming increasingly popular and is being watched on smartphones tablets computers and games consoles figures from the bbc showed that 47 per cent of requests for its iplayer service came from tablets or mobiles up from just 25 per cent in october 2012 in the 18-24 age group 15 per cent watch most of their television on a laptop compared to the national average of 3 per cent

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AnewreportfromBritainshowsthatthingsarenotlookinggoodforcomp
anieswhoselltelevisions.ThenumberofU.K.homeswithaTVfelllastyea
rforthefirsttimeever.ThereportisfromanorganizationcalledOfcom,w
hichstudiesbusiness,habitsandtrendsinBritain.Itsaidthatafterdecad
esoftelevisionsalesincreasing,thingsarenowmovingintheoppositedir
ection.OfcomfoundthatthenumberofhomeswithaTVfellfrom26.33mi
llionattheendof2012to26.02millionattheendofthefollowingyear.This
isadropof300,000.ThefirstsurveyonTVownershipinBritainwasin195
6.Then,justover30percentofhomeshadaTV.Thisfigurerosetoaround
93percentbythe1970s.OfcomsaidthefallinTVownershipinBritainwas
probablybecauseofpeopleusingtablets,mobilephonesandotherdevic
estowatchTV.Manypeoplenowadaysarechoosingtowatch'catch-up'T
V,wherebytheyrecordtheirfavouriteprogrammesandwatchthemlate
rontheirdigitaldevices.Ofcomsaidcatch-upTVisbecomingincreas
inglypopularandisbeingwatchedonsmartphones,tablets,computers
andgamesconsoles.FiguresfromtheBBCshowedthat47percentofreq
uestsforitsiPlayerservicecamefromtabletsormobiles,upfromjust25p
ercentinOctober2012.Inthe18-24agegroup,15percentwatchmosto
ftheirtelevisiononalaptop,comparedtothenationalaverageof3percen
t.

FREE WRITING

Write about television for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Television does more good than harm. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about television. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. TVs: Make a poster about TVs. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. DIGITAL DEVICES: Write a magazine article about digital devices becoming more popular than television. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on television. Ask him/her three questions about television. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make people watch TV more. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	report	a.	study
2.	fell	b.	decreased
3.	increasing	c.	rising
4.	moving	d.	heading
5.	figure	e.	number
6.	because of	f.	due to
7.	programmes	g.	shows
8.	increasingly	h.	more and more
9.	group	i.	category
10.	national	j.	countrywide

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	TV makers
2.	Business, habits and trends
3.	In the opposite direction (downwards)
4.	300,000
5.	1956
6.	Tablets, phones, etc.
7.	Catch-up TV
8.	47%
9.	18-24-year-olds
10.	3%

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

b

4.

d

5.

a

6.

d

7.

b

8.

d

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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TV sales fell for the first time ever in U.K. (11th December, 2014)

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