This book investigates the relationship between television programming and the cultural identity of the British audience during the transition from terrestrial broadcasting to satellite and cable systems. Charlotte Brunsdon, a prominent scholar in media and cultural studies, utilizes a sociological framework to analyze how domestic viewing habits and the changing landscape of television content reflect broader shifts in British society. She argues that the evolution of 'screen tastes' is not merely a technological progression but a complex negotiation of class, gender, and national identity within the home.

Scholars in the field of television studies frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the cultural impact of the late 20th-century media transition in Britain. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of how television content shapes and is shaped by its viewers.