A media appliance comprising: video apparatus coupled to the television receiver, and operable to output the television signals of selected television programmes from the television receiver to a screen; a control device allowing a user to control the output of television signals from the video apparatus to the screen thereby selecting a television programme; a network interface for accessing a packet-based network; a memory storing a communication client application; and processing apparatus, coupled to the memory, network interface and video apparatus, and arranged to execute the communication client application; wherein the client application is configured so as when executed to allow the user to conduct bidirectional communications with other users via the packet-based network, and output notifications to the user of incoming communication events received from the other users over the packet-based network; wherein the client application is further configured to defer one or more of said notifications of incoming communication events received during said selected television programme, determine a delineation in the selected television programme, and automatically output the one or more notifications to the user following said delineation; and wherein the client application is further configured to automatically send during the selected television programme, without requiring an input from the user, an automated message to one or more of the other users that has originated one or more incoming communication events received, by the client application, during the selected television programme, wherein the automated message informs the one or more other users that has originated the one or more incoming communication events of the unavailability of the user, characterized in that the automated message indicates a reason why the user is unavailable and includes prediction information of when the user is likely to become available again based on programme schedule information relating to the selected television programme. video apparatus coupled to the television receiver, and operable to output the television signals of selected television programmes from the television receiver to a screen; a control device allowing a user to control the output of television signals from the video apparatus to the screen thereby selecting a television programme; a network interface for accessing a packet-based network; a memory storing a communication client application; and processing apparatus, coupled to the memory, network interface and video apparatus, and arranged to execute the communication client application; wherein the client application is configured so as when executed to allow the user to conduct bidirectional communications with other users via the packet-based network, and output notifications to the user of incoming communication events received from the other users over the packet-based network; wherein the client application is further configured to defer one or more of said notifications of incoming communication events received during said selected television programme, determine a delineation in the selected television programme, and automatically output the one or more notifications to the user following said delineation; and wherein the client application is further configured to automatically send during the selected television programme, without requiring an input from the user, an automated message to one or more of the other users that has originated one or more incoming communication events received, by the client application, during the selected television programme, wherein the automated message informs the one or more other users that has originated the one or more incoming communication events of the unavailability of the user, characterized in that the automated message indicates a reason why the user is unavailable and includes prediction information of when the user is likely to become available again based on programme schedule information relating to the selected television programme.