Why we watch so much television today is a question that will have many and multi-faceted answers. But in his book Media Unlimited, Todd Giltin offers solid statistical evidence for at least one of the answers. Here is a small table outlining the cost for a general laborer to enjoy the entertainment of that day, given as a proportion of his daily wage.
| 18th century (theater) | More than a full day’s wage |
| Early 19th century (theater) | 1/3 |
| 1840s-50s | A little less than 1/3 (25¢) |
| 1870 (minstrel, variety shows) | 1/6 (still 25¢) |
| 1880s (melodrama, vaudeville) | 1/13 (10¢) |
| 1910 (nickelodeon) | 1/40 (10¢) |
| 1920 (movie theater) | less than 1/40 (10¢) |
| 1960s (television) | 1/360 (amortizing cost of $200 black-and-white set) |
| 1998 (cable television) | 1/100 (amortizing cost of $300 color set plus basic cable |
I guess this help explains the fact that the average American currently watches in excess of four hours per day!
