They also make adverts in mono & feed it to both channels of your stereo TV increasing the volume

I Sky+ most things so forward wind them. If the ads are on I'll play on laptop or iPhone while they're on.

Same here.

I can't remember the last time I actually watched anything live

Eventually, Sky will catch on to this and will disable winding, or will make it less convenient. Virgin’s catch up TV service used to have fast wind forward or backward. Now it just skips a large number of seconds. You have little choice but to watch at least one advert in a break.

Make a cup of tea.

I drink alot of tea.

I can almost guarantee you don't drink as much as my father-in-law. I've never seen anything like it.

Let them just try!

I use Windows Media Centre so the won't be able to stop me

Whilst all of this is correct, it does depend what equipment you're listening through, as to how dynamic your audio is.

When I used to actually watch broadcast television (which really was some time ago now) it was far less of an issue through a regular NICAM set, than anything external.

Only if he gets into 3 figures for the day.

Close (no joke).

Until Microsoft implements it at the behest of the Murdochs of this world.

Then I'll just use my little plugin I've got.
Bow down before me, for I am root

What do I do when the ads come on? I shut down my ears and scream inside my head.

Mark

What do I do when the adverts come on?

I pick up a magazine and hold it in front of my face like a spy from one of those terrible old films from the 60's, as Mrs. V starts messin' with the remote and it does my bloody head in!