For many Americans, the TV isn’t just something they turn on—it’s something that’s always on. According to a CivicScience poll of nearly 50K respondents, 38% say they keep their TV on all the time, 45% say it’s on some of the time, and 17% say it’s rarely on (excluding those who selected “does not apply”). Adults 45 and older are the most likely to keep the TV on constantly, while nearly 30% of Gen Z say they rarely or never have the TV on at all.

To better understand these habits, CivicScience took a closer look at how those who keep the TV on ‘all the time’ differ from those who only have it on ‘some of the time.’ The differences go beyond simple viewing preferences.

• College Football vs. NFL: Those who keep the TV on all the time are more likely to prefer watching the NFL, while those who keep it on some of the time are evenly split between college football and professional football, suggesting more selective sports viewing.

• Sleep: TV habits also tie to rest. Those who keep the TV on ‘sometimes’ are six percentage points more likely to say they get enough sleep most of the time (51% vs. 45% of those who keep it on constantly).

• Number of TVs: Unsurprisingly, constant-TV households are more likely to own three or more TVs, while those who watch only ‘some’ of the time tend to have one or two.

• TV Size: Those who keep the TV on all the time are also the most likely to prefer a large-screen TV, whereas occasional viewers tend to favor medium-sized sets.

• Reality TV & Romance: Constant TV viewers are more than twice as likely to say they think participating in a reality TV dating show would be fun and that they’d actually do it.

Whether the TV is background noise or a more intentional form of entertainment, these habits reflect broader differences in sleep, sports fandom, and even attitudes toward reality TV. For some Americans, turning the TV off is the exception—not the rule.

How often do you keep the TV on? Take this poll now and see how you compare with others who share your opinion: