MUMBAI: The next edition of the annual TV-Turnoff Week l takes place in the US from 19-25 April. Founded in 1994, the TV-Turnoff Network has spent the past decade spreading the message that by switching off the idiot box, people are able to lead healthier lives by interacting more with friends and family.

The network has stated that this year it expects greater support for its initiative as "millions of people have become fed up with indecency on the airwaves". The network adds that according to its estimate, this year, American children will spend more time in front of the television (1,023 hours) than in school (900 hours).

Since 1995, the organisation claims that more than 24 million people have participated in the TV-Turnoff Week, which offers several parallel several programmes alongside. One of them is More Reading, Less TV. The one month programme helps elementary school teachers motivate their students to put down their remote controls and pick up books instead. More than 30,000 US students have benefitted from the programme, claims the organisation.,

The Network says it is supported by over 70 US organisations including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Education Association, and the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.