Channel Surfing: The Evolution of TV Viewing Habits

What is Alice's behavior known as?

Alice regularly watches a TV show which airs between 8:00 and 9:00 P.M. During the commercial breaks, she switches channels in order to watch music videos. This is known as:

Final answer:

Alice's behavior of switching channels during commercials to watch music videos is known as 'channel surfing.'

Alice's habit of changing channels during commercial breaks to watch music videos is a viewing behavior termed 'channel surfing.' This term describes the action of viewers flipping through different television channels to find programming that suits their interests, often to avoid commercials.

With the advent of cable television networks in the 1980s, which provided specialized channels like CSPAN and ESPN, viewers gained more control over what they watched. This was further enhanced by the expansion of the internet in the 2000s, offering even more options and control to media consumers. Viewers can now bypass commercials, record shows, and choose from a vast array of content instantly.

This extensive control has many implications, including changes in the way politics are communicated to the public, as traditional methods like the State of the Union address see declining viewership.