If a television program is neither informative nor interesting, then it's a waste of time. Before I used to think that I had an obligation to watch the political conventions to be "well-informed", but I've become increasingly convinced that I'm better off reading the highlights afterwards. Beyond the platitudes, there's little substance; it's a just rehashing of soundbites that have already been beaten into the ground.
With limited time, I'm prioritize my time to focus on things that I think will help me uncover new information or that I find entertaining. So while the televised debates haven't change my opinion, I watched them because they were entertaining, albeit depressing when I reflect on the fact that they're intended to be informative, not Jerry Springer style reality television.
Life's too short to do things out of a blind sense of obligation.