London, Apr 13: One in ten British families get a chance to spend time together only when they are watching television, according to a new survey.

In the survey conducted by Raisingkids website, along with Freesat, the subscription-free digital television service, half of the respondents thought that time spent watching TV was the best way to catch up with one another.

However, nearly 10 pct admitted that it was the only time they were all together in the same room.

The survey showed that almost a third watched TV together two to three times a week, while almost two-fifths watched together for up to an hour a night, and comedy shows were the best type of show to bond over.

Only one in 20 families said that they never sat down in front of the box together.

"Watching TV for an hour or two a few times a week can be the ultimate opportunity for families to bond," the Telegraph quoted Psychologist Pat Spungin, who founded the Raisingkids website, as saying.

"It is also promising that with our busy lifestyles, families regard watching TV together as the opportunity to communicate with each other and discuss current issues," she added.

Spungin said that laughter releases the feel good hormone serotonin and when people laugh together it creates a bonding effect.

"Television often gets a bad press but for time pressed families watching television together - especially if they are all having a good laugh - is an opportunity to share and bond," she said. (ANI)