TV Licensing

TV Licensing survey reveals over 100 names for the TV remote, with viewers wielding the ‘Panic Button’, ‘Fat Enhancer’ and ‘Ronnie Remote’

In living rooms across the nation people use an extensive list of words to describe the remote control, a survey carried out by TV Licensing¹ reveals.

The top moniker for remote control is simply ‘Remote’, with ‘Doofer’ or ‘Doofah’ in second place and ‘Zapper’ in third place. The survey also shows a marked increase in slang used across the country, with more than 100 regional variations identified. Names favoured in Scotland were ‘Gizmo’, the ‘Whatcha-ma-call–it’ in Wales and the ‘Zapper’ in Northern Ireland.

Spokesperson for TV Licensing Jason Hill suggested the broad array of terms reflected the diversity of UK communities and the change in the way people are watching TV.

Three years ago, research identified around 50 pet names for the remote control², but as the way we watch TV diversifies, it’s natural our language will adapt according to new behaviours and ways of watching.

You need to be covered by a licence if you watch or record live TV programmes on any channel or if you download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer. This applies to any device you use.

With TV companies looking to pioneer smartphone controlled apps, we’re likely to see the “remote” evolve even further over the coming years, he said.

People are struggling to keep tabs on the location of their remotes, with one in three households now boasting at least four channel changers. Viewers in Northern Ireland are the most absent-minded in the United Kingdom, with over half of those surveyed misplacing it at least four times a year. Adults in the East Midlands, by contrast, are the UK’s most careful with over half claiming they haven’t lost their remote in the past 12 months³.

As so many programmes are available on demand, it certainly can be difficult to agree on what to watch. Everyone in a household will have their own favourite programmes, and it is all about compromise.

We would always prefer people to pay than risk a fine or prosecution. We offer a wide range of payment methods and options to help spread the cost and suit people’s needs. These can all be set up quickly and easily online on the TV Licensing site or by phone on 0300 790 6113.

And the other 80-plus names from across the UK…

1. Online survey carried out by One Poll on behalf of TV Licensing, 3,800 online participants, September-October 2016
2. According to a survey of 1,000 people conducted by netvouchercodes.co.uk, published in September 2013
3. Online survey of 1000 UK adults, carried out 8-12 October 2016