Most parents say they use TV as a "babysitter"
The View of the Nation Television Survey, conducted by the Radio Times, found that 54% of the population would be lonely without their television.
In the 597 representative households questioned, more than 40% had the TV on for at least six hours a day.
But the survey also showed how, despite this dependence, most people - 67% - believed there is often nothing worth watching.
"It's intriguing that our study is riddled with contradictions, said Nigel Horne, Radio Times editor.
"We don't like to be without our TV, and yet we're loath to admit that. We say our sets are on for hours each day but claim to watch far less.
"The Radio Times View of the Nation Survey offers a fascinating insight into our guilty love affair with TV."
The people questioned in the survey were from across the UK and aged 18 and over.
Although most admitted to having the TV on for long periods a day, most also said they used it only as "background" to other activities.
Soaps
Of these, eating the main meal of day was the most common thing to do, with 42% of people claiming to do this in front of the TV.
After that, 38% of respondents said they did housework in front of the screen, 29% made telephone calls, 22% read and 19% cooked.
And, despite widespread concern about the effect of TV on children, two-thirds of parents said they used it as a "babysitter".
Nearly half of adults with children aged between seven and 10 said there was a set in a child's bedroom.
When it came to giving programmes their full attention, the majority of respondents said they considered "reality" TV and soaps to be the least important shows.
Viewing figures, however, go against this claim, with EastEnders, Coronation Street and Brookside regularly coming at the top of the TV charts.
Trust
The survey also questioned viewers' attitudes to the personalities regularly seen on TV.
The results showed that The Weakest Link presenter Anne Robinson was the most disliked, followed by comic character Ali G, played by Sacha Baron Cohen.
Broadcaster Chris Evans was considered the most over-rated, followed by Michael Barrymore, Vanessa Feltz and Carol Vorderman.
Actor David Jason emerged as the best-loved celebrity.
ITV's news presenter Trevor McDonald was considered more trustworthy than BBC Two's Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman.