I currently have TV, but for the longest time did not, and at the moment it is because of roommates that I have it.
When I did not have internet or TV I found I read A LOT! The greatest thing about not having cable television, was if there was a show I wanted to see I would make an event out of it with friends. For example, Hell's Kitchen, I would go to a friends house and we would trade off weeks making meals. One of us would make dinner that night. We would try to outdo each other with our meals each week while watching the show.
Like you said, it's background noise. I can put in a DVD, or fire up some music on the stereo to fill that vacancy of noise and avoid commercials and advertisements.
Congratulations!
