We've never been so interested in TV shows - but we aren't watching TV. Instead, we're turning to online video - whether it's Netflix or YouTube. But new technology isn't solely responsible – a wider shift in lifestyles is creating a natural path towards hyper-diversification.

Second screens are a growing part of the TV experience. But as televisions, remotes and consoles get 'smarter', how will new user behaviours affect the balance between screens?

Until now, television viewing has resisted much of the digital flurry, but with people spending time across multiple devices and dipping into a buffet of distractions – from big screens to little screens, Twitter to IMDb – this is changing.

As you leave for work, you yell “lock” and “camera on” to keep the house secure, before telling your vacuum to clean the bedroom carpet while you're out. It's not a sci-fi film - the technology is available now. But do we really want our homes to be controlled by technology?

New internet TV provider Sling TV allows Americans to view channels like ESPN and Disney for just $20 per month – without needing cable. But while more alternatives to cable enter the market – allowing direct streaming to smart televisions – are they really that different?

If you watch TV without another device in hand, then you may soon be in the minority. TV viewing is increasingly becoming a multi-screen experience, however new research shows a link between juggling multiple digital devices and a lower-than-usual amount of brain cells.

Over half of us use a mobile device while we watch TV - so second screens are becoming the norm. As a result, a research paper called A Year in the Life of TV has found that Twitter, not ratings, might actually the best way to measure a TV show's popularity.

The days of the smartphone or tablet being a second screen are well and truly over. According to a report in 2014 by digital analytics firm Flurry, smartphones are now officially ahead of televisions in terms of time spent staring at them. So what does this mean for advertisers?