It's one of the most used electrical appliances in any UK household - but the cost of running a TV every day can quickly add up, especially in a family home with several on the go at once running games consoles, streaming Netflix and plugged into soundbars and sound systems.
According to TV regulator Ofcom, the average UK person watches TV for 4 hours and 31 minutes per day, though this varies by age, with over 65s racking up six hours but young adults managing only 53 minutes.
From April, energy regulator Ofgem is lowering prices of gas and electricity, making your telly ever so slightly cheaper to run, but this is now thought to be a temporary reprieve, with prices set to increase by as much as 13% from July based on forecasts from analytics firm Cornwall Insight and energy firms themselves.
According to USwitch, TVs typically consume between 40W and 200W when in use, though this can vary a lot depending on what type of TV and how big it is. For example, a cheap 32 inch bedroom LCD TV running an over-the-air signal will use a lot less than a 77" OLED on its brightest setting streaming in 4K.
Taking an average of 100W energy draw, used for the average 4 hours 30 minutes per day, households would spend 11p per day watching TV, which is pretty good value for money. Over the year, that's £40.52.
Of course, that's not taking into account any other devices plugged into it, like a set-top box, Sky box, surround sound, sound bar, DVD/Bluray player or a games console, and if your TV is bigger than average, it will cost more.
That also doesn't factor in the cost of a TV Licence, which will go up to £15 a month from April, which you will need to watch any live TV or any BBC TV at all, live or on iPlayer.
According to USwitch, here are some factors that govern the price of your TV usage.
It says: "Compared with other household appliances, such as tumble dryers and fridges, televisions don't use that much electricity. But they can be the biggest energy guzzlers of your entertainment equipment, particularly if they're large.
"Most TVs consume between 40 and 200 watts (W) when switched on, but the exact figure will depend on the:
Type - LED, OLED and QLED TVs all have different power consumption levels. QLED TVs tend to use more power than OLED TVs.
Age - newer TVs tend to be more efficient than older ones
Size - the bigger the screen, the more electricity it's likely to consume
Settings - brightness and other settings can affect electricity use
Usage - of course, the more you watch TV, the more energy it uses.
"TVs are rated for energy efficiency on a scale of A-G. Many will have an E-G rating, which is considered poor for household appliances."
It adds: "If you're buying a new TV, think about the size and type of screen you choose. An energy-efficient 32-inch LCD will typically use half the power of a model with a 42-inch plasma screen. In general, the smaller your TV, the less it will cost you to run, but the type of television is also crucial, as is its age."
