Anecdote: my wife and I got rid of our TV 2.5 years ago. One of the best decisions we ever made. We're happier and vastly more productive. Our kids were sad the day we sold the TV, but they've seen the value in it and have thanked us.
Edit: We haven't substituted TV for smaller versions (phone, tablet). We use electronics for work and school but not entertainment. It's been amazing.
The biggest part of overcoming addictions is replacing them and the time they take with something else. If you don't mind sharing, what are you and your family doing instead?
We weren't intentional about replacing TV with something specific, so there are several things that cumulatively fill the void. We play, read, volunteer at the Salvation Army, I'm taking a couple classes at a local university, etc.
I don't bring it up to brag or say "hey be like me." Rather, as you pointed out, it seems like TV is an addiction for most folks. As the article highlights, it often has a negative impact on mood, thoughts etc. One day we just realized we were, in a sense, slaves to the box and dumped it. Never looked back.
Can't speak for other posters, but holier-than-thou wasn't my goal. I was trying to say "hey y'all, this was helpful for me" – sorry if it came across otherwise.
Edit: We haven't substituted TV for smaller versions (phone, tablet). We use electronics for work and school but not entertainment. It's been amazing.