I can be scanning online news and doing tons of things. I listen to sporting events for free about every night. I have an online job that I do where I have a bunch of dead time occasionally. In between moves of Scrabble on the Ipad.
With the TV, unless you are paying for DVR, you have to listen to what is being presented right then or it is missed. With online media, I just pause, do what I need to do, and then go back to reading/watching., not to mention with television I have to watch a bunch of commercials where half the time I have to take the time to turn down the volume because the sound jumps up in between news segments. You should think about joining the 21st century.