TiVo research: It’s becoming more difficult to avoid TV spoilers

“Tragically, spoilers are everywhere – in your home, on your phone, on the train, in your office, on social media– anywhere insensitive humans gather to discuss media,” said TiVo Chief Research Officer Jonathan Steuer. “TiVo can help you keep up with your TV favorites at home, and frequently while mobile streaming from the road – but, unfortunately, even TiVo can’t keep loudmouths from blurting out shocking plot twists at the water cooler.”

71% of those surveyed said that they take preventative measures against spoilers. The most “tried and true” way continues to be to ask friends not to spoil, followed by avoiding social media and news sites and trying to watch the program ASAP.

This is partly why live sports will continue to succeed well into the time-shifting and over-the-top era. There are still plenty of reasons to watch scripted TV show and movies even once they’re spoiled. With sports, though, watching live is the norm – only die-hards go out of their way to record games. This explains why those surveyed said that the top three worst spoilers:

- 22 per cent said the worst spoiler is learning the results of a sporting event

- 17 per cent said a character death on a TV show

- 12 per cent said a movie ending

Below some more fun spoiler findings from the survey:

- 31 per cent sometimes read spoilers on purpose, prior to watching a show

- 41 per cent admit to having accidentally spoiled something for someone else and to feeling bad about it

- Just 3 per cent have deliberately spoiled for others

- 35 per cent said that people are way too sensitive about spoilers

- 22 per cent said that news headlines on the internet is the most common source of spoilers; Facebook ranked second at 20%

- 44 per cent of Grey’s Anatomy fans had the death of McDreamy spoiled for them prior to watching the episode

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