All Stories FeedABC most reliable network, Nine worst -readers
The ABC is the most reliable network -according to readers of TV Tonight- and Nine the least.
In the Audience Inventory, the public broadcaster was a clear winner in the key question of starting TV programmes on time by a huge 55% win.
It was followed by Foxtel (22%), SBS (11%), TEN (7%), Seven (3%) and Nine (2%).
The question was completed by 99% of the survey respondents, which totalled over 800.
ABC was also first in the question for most reliable overall programming by 53%, followed by Foxtel (18%), Seven (13%), TEN (10%), SBS (4%) and Nine (2%).
But readers slammed Nine for failing to start programmes on time (40%), then Seven (36%), TEN (23%). ABC, Foxtel and SBS all shared 0.3%.
When it came to the question of which network had the most unreliable overall programming the decision was even more harsh.
A whopping 80% voted for Nine.
It was followed by Seven (12%), TEN (6%) , SBS (1%) and 0.5% for Foxtel and the ABC.
There was some recognition for Seven’s ability to reschedule programmes it had pulled off air. It was first in that question, chosen by 34% of readers, followed by TEN (24%), ABC (17%), Foxtel (12%), Nine (10%) and SBS (3%).
Readers were especially vocal on programming issues. Some comments included:
- I am sick of being treated like dirt by ratings hungry TV networks. Oh and when will the 3 commercial FTAs wake up to them selves and stop trying to copy/out do each other?
- The Australian FTA networks are pathetic at starting a series, moving it around after just a few episodes, then dropping it because it didn’t get ratings. A show can’t get decent ratings if people don’t know when it’s going to be on from week to week. They don’t even advertise some enough to know they started before they move them to a new time. Some good series have gotten dropped due to these ridiculous programming decisions.
- I don’t mind what time shows start, just as long as the times match to the EPG, and preferably other guides too.
- Australian channels need to start programs at the advertised time. You can understand when live sport goes overtime and when a major news event affects programming. But TT and ACA going overtime every night is rubbish.
- Scheduling and performance of this should be included in the code of practice. Also I have noted that the amount of commericals/promos have increased during the early part of the evening thus causing the scheduling overrun.
- I absolutely refuse to watch channel 9 anymore thanks to their complete contempt for their audience. And then they can’t figure out why people aren’t interested in their shows.
- Biggest issue I have with FTA commercial TV is their contempt for the viewers. Overwriting end credits, inaccurate program guides, mixing repeats and first run shows, and many more annoyances. It all boils down to a lack of respect towards the audience.
- Hardly watch FTA TV except ABC and SBS, just got sick of the changing schedules and wrong start times, the commercial channels treat their viewers with contempt – esp. Nine
- Ten run their shows overtime very badly, but their EPG does reflect this, eg. 7:31-8:38, so at least their shows can be properly recorded, unlike Seven and Nine.
- We watch very little FTA TV now, only ABC1 & 2. Not viewing much SBS any more since they started putting ads within programs. Have full Platinum package from Foxtel & couldn’t do without it.
- Get rid of: *Pop-up ads. *Shows starting late – 99.99% of the time, the station should know how long a show will go for. Would it kill them to inform the rest of us? And yet we keep going back for more… *ACMA
- I would like more honesty from the networks and less cross promotion crap disguised into shows. Furthermore the ACMA has to do something bar slapping wrists (12 months later)
- The FTA channels tend to have little regard for their viewers. A good example is the way C9 has handled the demise of ER. The last season was taken off half way through two years ago and since then it has appeared sporadically at best. Another example is the habit of running the last two episodes of a series one after the other on the same night. This often happens with programs such as Amazing Race or similar.
- Major issues I have with TV Stations is that they always seem to ignore the viewers. We complain about the stations going over time for years but they still do it anyway. I like Good News week but I refuse to watch it now as they always go overtime and not by a little but by a lot.
- I would like to see the networks actually say when they are axing a show, or when its moving to midnight, at the end of a previous episode so the viewers know whats going on.
- The most important issue for Free-to-Air TV is that TV programs need to start and finish within 5 minutes of the time in the weekly printed guide, and over-the-air EIT guide data needs to be accurate to the minute.
- FTA Networks have no clue – they start programs late, they show series that are anywhere from 6 – 12 months old eg TAR on Seven or don’t show it at all eg Survivor on Nine, to many ad breaks, this is why I get the shows elsewhere.
- It was hard to choose which channel is worst when it comes to programming. It really irritates me that I get a tv guide for the week ahead and it is completely useless- it is rarely accurate for the next days programs, let alone the next weeks. I also like to read the credits, but the screen is always shrunk down so it’s impossible.
- The programming department at channel nine needs to be put against the wall and shot.
- Sport involving Australia at an international level (mainly referring to soccer here) should be shown on FTA and live!! All sport should be shown live (I understand there may be some exceptional circumstances).
- It would be worthwhile for the networks to convene focus groups to determine the ‘image’ of the network, similar to the activity undertaken by Channel 9 in teh late eighties. That produced interesting results with Ch 9 seen as flamboyant, racy and flash, 7 as dependable, suburbian and boring, and 10 as irrelevant – how different it is now.
- Re FTA channels: Honouring a series once it starts…even if it rates poor find another spot than 1:25am Monday morning.. show a bit of loyalty… (some shows that are just strange like Dance Y.A.O fair enough but like dexter, harpers island etc etc).
- Make sure the networks get a copy of these results!!
The survey was conducted over a 10 day period in August but is not presented as scientific evidence.
More results will follow soon.
Just spent the last 4 years in the USA. All TV shows run on time all the time which means that you can program your Tivo or DVR and not miss show beginnings or endings. This includes all cable channels and local channels.
Digital Spy story
Thanks Barrie!
You have even made it to the UK Media forum digital spy. Doesn’t look good for Channel 9. They quoted the unreliable network that “needs to be put against the wall and shot.”
@ jay jay – we don’t have a choice but to accept what they do and they know it so nothing changes. The networks also know that if they made complaining easier they’d have to put on extra staff to handle the correspondence as mentioned in an earlier story.
Yes thanks Kathy, was pretty chuffed. Some radio also made mention of it.
Some of your comments were included in the Daily Tele, guys!
Nine’s still the one to annoy viewers
Well done David with the results / article making the Daily Telegraph.
Headline also appropriate : ‘Channel Nine’s still the one to annoy viewers’
“In a poll by TV Tonight.com blogger David Knox, Channel 9 drew 80 per cent of the protest vote for the most unreliable programming, followed by Seven (12 per cent), Ten (6 per cent), SBS (1 per cent), Foxtel and the ABC with 0.5 per cent”
a boycott over shows starting late? I think advertisers will laugh that one off. Ok – fair enough if a show starts 10 minutes late get upset, but is it really worth all this hatred? Shooting 9 programmers Bazza? Nice. Seems like 7 and 10 are shocking offenders at running late. You going after them too? How many of you can actually say (honestly) that you have called a TV station and complained about a show starting late? Of the 800 people who filled out this survey and ranked that as their main issue, who has officially complained? Bitching about it to your mates is not complaining. Writing about it on here is not complaining. If 800 people were to suddenly call a network believe me something would happen! And remember when you call, if you speak to the person like they are worthless, the first thing they will do is focus on what a tosser you are being and forget all about your complaint.
And just keep in mind, as much as all of you are whinging, you still tune in each night. As do millions of other Australians. Something must be going right!
@ timmy you probably dont watch it but footy classified on monday night is the worst example , the last 10 minutes 3 adds unbearable
for my money way too many adds are ruining most shows i watch, i know they have to show adds to make it profitable but sometimes there just to long and frequent
@timmy. Considering that TV Week is owned by the same company that owns Channel 9, you’d think it’s in Nine’s best interest not to bastardise what is printed in their own magazine listing. I wonder what TV Week think of Nine’s poor scheduling practices? It’s costing them readers and ad revenue.
it is interesting though. If you ran an audience survey ten years ago I think the biggest gripe would be stations displaying watermark logos on the screen during programs. Now in 2009, that one thing barely rates a mention anymore. We’ve just come to accept this as television. Perhaps the networks think we’ll eventually just accept what they’re doing with program scheduling etc and move on. And what they don’t realise is that yes this time we Will move on… but this time to the internet…… (as indeed many people have already done). The networks won the watermark battle but they needn’t think they’ll win this time.
Complaining to the networks about shows running late etc is pointless. They don’t care about viewers. They do, however, care about advertisers.
To make a difference, what we need is a campaign targeting major TV advertisers. Complain to the marketing departments of the advertisers and (at least threaten to) stop buying their products unless the shows in which they advertise run on time.
Which shows are the worst? Idol? TT/ACA? Footy Show?
Through blogs like TV Tonight and social networking sites like Twitter/MySpace/Facebook etc, people could actually make a difference. The advertisers to target and relevant email addresses, fax number etc would need to be worked out in advance.
David – are you up for the challenge?
I wonder how the revenue for TV Week and the Sunday newspapers with full week guides are going? I cancelled the Adelaide’s Sunday Mail subscription 3 years ago, when I realised there was no need for a TV guide, when everything in it was incorrect (no the fault of the publisher). The only reason I got the Sunday paper was for the TV guide, definately not the content of the paper!
Surely I’m not the only one to stop purchasing TV Guides/newspapers?
I noticed Ten tonight updated the EPG for TBYG to end at 20:41 rather than 20:30. However Seven didnt update theirs to say that PTTR was going to start 10 mins late.
Thanks for the entertainment Jay Jay. I actually wish I had your generous outlook. Unfortunately I believe that the FTA’s are money hungry manipulators who couldnt care a jot about their viewers. But thats just me.
“The programming department at channel nine needs to be put against the wall and shot.”
My new Facebook status
Not surprised by any of the complaints about FTA programming. When 100% of your revenues come from advertising and you’re a company with shareholders your first customer is going to be your paying advertisers…. then the viewer.
Tonight Seven (Sydney) News ended at 6:30. TT started at 6:30. finished 7:04 (4 mins over as usual). H&A 7:04-7:34, Airways 7:34-8:06, Surf Patrol 8:06-8:40 – so PTTR was 10 mins. late. Not to worry, over on TEN NCIS started 13 mins late. Good timing guys as I could switch over to ABC2 for The Beast starting at 8:46.
Seven/Prime ran 18m40s of commercials & promos between 7:04 & 8:04. Any wonder programs start late when there’s almost 19 mins of non-program content per hour? Whatever happened to the rule of 12 mins + 2 mins promos. “Promos” should be included in advertising time anyway. Most viewers see them as “advertisements” for programs, no different to anything else being sold.
Jay Jay, take a chill pill I think the majority have spoken and free to air need to pull there socks up.
Let’s hope that the FTA stations take notice of this! Going back 8 – 10 yrs ago shows like Aways Greener attracted over 2 million viewers weekly. We don’t see those figures much anymore. Maybe FTA stations need to take on board viewers comments so ratings start to go up…
I don’t think anyone is complaining about things running two minutes late – I think any reasonable person can accept that. What I and everyone else thinks is unacceptable are those delays of 5, 10, 15 minutes or more that are all too common. Indeed, on some channels and with some programmes this is more the rule than the exception. The ABC manages to run its TV and radio stations consistently on time and there is no reason why the commercial networks could not achieve similar levels of punctuality with the vast majority of their programming.
Come on jay jay. The News rarely runs over. As I said, there are interstate stations and regionals expecting to join the network at 6:30:00 or whatever time, from their news. Explain to me how, in this day and age of computers, automation and the ability to “trim” segments and adjust replay time, programs of a fixed international length plus 12mins of commercials and a few mins of promos, can start at 8:35 and end at 9:42 – 68 mins later?
In the era before computerised logs and automation programs ran very close to time.
No one’s whining about 2 minutes. Often programs are 12 mins. late.
“You expect those in presentation to rearrange the schedule” – well what the hell else are they there for? Or don’t you do that anymore, like the old days?
The news running 2 mins over doesn’t explain 12 mins over by 9:30.
“Ten run their shows overtime very badly, but their EPG does reflect this, eg. 7:31-8:38, so at least their shows can be properly recorded, unlike Seven and Nine.”
“I like Good News week but I refuse to watch it now as they always go overtime and not by a little but by a lot.”
Er, that’s not running overtime if it ends at the time it says… Having an “odd ending time” does not equal “running overtime.” As far as I’m aware, there is nothing that states that shows must stick to an hour format and cannot be, say, an hour and 10 minutes.
As for the survey itself, it’s very interesting but it could’ve been set up better. Anyone could have said that ABC, SBS and Foxtel would do well in the areas it did (if anyone wants a detailed analysis, I’ll provide it) and frankly it was a bit of a waste to include them.
The numbers are nice to compare to the commercial networks but I would’ve preferred those questions being just at the three commercial networks and being able to see the breakdown between just them three (or a separate survey, in the future). See which commercial networks seem to be doing the best/worst in what areas (in the eyes of the readers of this site, naturally) in comparison to just the other commercial networks and whatnot.
For someone who stated this issue is so trivial, you certainly have a lot to say jay jay!
@ James – so what you are telling me is that programmers can predict what will happen in the 1800 news before it happens?! Wowsers! Yes everything is planned in advance but it is all based on estimates – as I previously mentioned.
If the bulletin runs even 2 minutes over it pushes the entire night out. Advertisers have already paid for their spots so they must go to air. Promos are necessary for channel marketing and also people complain if a show isn’t promoted enough!!
You expect those in presentation to rearrange the schedule, update the EPG, get the TV Guides reprinted and ensure the broadcast is actually happening all so you can watch exactly on time programmes on a channel that all of you say you don’t watch anyway?! Gee I am blown away.
They say magic happens in TV but this is just expecting too much. I would hate to be standing next to you if a tram was ever running 2 minutes late. Watch out.
I would rather scratch my eyes out David. LOL
If shows were only running 3 mins behind i would not be complaining. Its the 5 – 10 mins that are annoying especially if a show you are watching is meant to finish at 10.30 and there is a show you want to watch on another CH which is starting at 10.30. Happens to me nearly every monday night with ch 7 show at 9.30 when i want to watch show on SBS at 10.30.
Thats why i have a problem Jay Jay.
Sorry David that is truely my final word on this matter.
It’s extremely evident who are the main offenders of their shows not starting on time. On my IQ2 I always add 20 minutes to the finishing times of the shows I watch on FTA (except ABC and SBS), and just the auto buffer of 2 minutes for all Foxtel recordings. Foxtel has never given me grief in many years of viewing of shows not starting on time. Most of the time Foxtel shows literally start as soon as the minute ticks over to its scheduled start time, and that, is frankly, amazing.
Programs not starting on time – excluding live sports events programmers know how long a show will run, they know how many ads are booked for that time or how many they can fit, it’s simple maths to make it work.
But now networks are having longer ad breaks, many now 4 minutes long, 5 breaks in an hour and you can see why some shows runs 5 minutes long. On top of this they cut the credits, for more ads/promos and then put up endless pop-ups across the bottom of the screen!
The networks need to buy a calculator and make sure an 8:30 show starts at 8:30 and not 8:35, 8:40 or 8:45!
I think jayjay must either be working for a commercial station or incredibly naive. Everything on radio and TV is planned well ahead of time and can easily be made to run on time. The networks know how long a programme is and how many advertising slots they can sell and the length of these slots, so there is no excuse for running overtime unless a programme is live and unscripted. TT and ACA do not count as they are made of pre-recorded stories with only the intros done live – all the networks manage to keep their similarly run news programmes within time limits and the ABC manages this with all programming.
Also, it is perfectly reasonable for viewers to complain about this apparently free service, particularly for two reasons.
1. The commercial networks rely upon viewers to gain advertising revenue. If they treat their viewers poorly they will go elsewhere, so criticism can only be good for the networks.
2. The commercial networks do not have a god-given right to broadcast in whichever way they choose because the service is “free”. They are licensed by the government in return for a fee and their compliance with broadcasting standards and regulations. The cost of maintaining their right to broadcast is tiny in comparison to the profits they make and their existence and occupation of part of the TV broadcast spectrum prevents others from entering the market. You could say that broadcasting spectrum is a finite nation resource and I think we have a right to demand that it is used well.
jayjay says – “they are there to provide us entertainment”
Umm no I think they are there to raise revenue from advertising funds. I would eat my hat if the networks actually put viewers first!
Jay Jay and Vanessa might need to get a room soon? Foxtel landed ok in the question on poor start times. Think we’re done here.
oh and Vanessa, c’mon, “you hardly watch FTA” but happen to know they run late all the time? Complaining for the sake of complaining me thinks!
no Im just reasonable and know that Foxtel and FTA aren’t out to get us, they are there to provide us entertainment. They don’t sit around in meetings and try and work out ways to annoy Vanessa by making Days of Our Lives finish 3 minutes early.
I also know the world isn’t perfect and my life isn’t going to end if Packed to the Rafters starts 2.39 late.
Im just grateful we have television. I think what we are offered (for free) is amazing.
jay jay works for one of the FTA channels im thinking
Michael you’re looking at the most reliable starting time results, not the question on most unreliable overall in programming. They are two different questions.
Nine had an 80% response for that ahead of Seven on 12%.
David, with only 1% difference, your headline really should read “Seven and Nine voted most unreliable”
Very misleading…..and unfair on Nine.
Jay Jay says ‘Can you honestly tell me Vanessa that you watch every show on every Foxtel channel every night?’ I never said i did, i said the shows i watch, which are quiet a few, never or very rarely run over time, but on FTA which i hardly watch they always run late. You do the math.
Lately I have started to feel like the balance has tipped and I am watching more advertisements than television shows, especially on Go!.
@ Vanessa, Foxtel have the option of filling their breaks with as much promotion content as they desire. They do not have the same regulations as FTA. It all depends on the scheduler and the channel. Some schedulers will let a show run late, others early, others on time. Can you honestly tell me Vanessa that you watch every show on every Foxtel channel every night? Hmmmm, Don’t think so.
@ Kenny, FTA only finalise the schedule the day before it goes to air. Complete break times cannot be known in advance, they can only be estimated.
Are you seriously complaining about a programme starting 2 or 3 minutes late? What in life runs to that accuracy? If something is looking at running 5-10 minutes lates, I know most programmers will update their EPGs. Unfortunately they are not magicians and cannot turn back time and reprint TV guides. Make that complaint to the print media that feel the need to print guides 2 weeks in advance.
This is all so trivial.
@jj and everyone else re running overtime. The networks provide start times well in advance to the regional stations. The regionals, like WIN need this info so they can precisely fit their pre-recorded (Orange, Wagga, etc) local news into the time given by TCN. They also know the start times for the 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 programs etc (7:36, 8:42, 9:36 etc). Today & Sunrise always end exactly on time. The Morning show, 9am, Kerrie Anne always end exactly on time, as does the Morning News, the 4:30 News (as defined by what time the “5pm” program should start -always before 5 with 7 & 9), TEN’s News, the Sunday morning shows, etc., all of which are live. Commercial stations are supposed to only have an average of 12 mins/hr commercials. i.e., can be 13, 11, 12 etc. in consecutive hours. But hey, who’s counting. LOL.
They can also adjust the playback time of a program in their automation systems to fit a required length. 47 mins of program can be “adjusted” to, say, 44 or 54 mins., and no one notices. No editing. So easy.
“All FTA stations time their schedules as close to on time as possible”. Gimme a break. Their schedule start times are whatever they want them to be. They can easily adjust +or- 5-10 mins.
An actual hour of USA program is 44-45 mins. Add the “allowed” max. 12 mins for commercials + a few mins of promos = 60 mins. Why to programs start at 7:35 and end at 8:42?
The ignorance of some people amazes me. Everything on these shows is timed- the stories, the intros, the outros, the promos. Late finishes are by design- it’s a cynical attempt by the commercial nets to grab the viewer and prevent them from straying. The only reason ACA or TT should run overtime is if there is breaking news or an interview is too hot to be cut short. They managed to put their 7pm programmes to air dead on time in the ’70s and ’80s, they can surely manage to do it in the 21st century. Like many others I stopped putting up with this bull***t years ago and seldom watch anything live to air. It’s the networks’ loss.
If a news bulletin can start and finish on time, there is no reason why ACA and TT find themselves running late every night. The only do it with their misleading “coming up next” which then ‘conveniently’ allows another ad break and then the story that was “coming up next” is really just an ad for the following night’s show. Ditch that segment and the misleading “coming up next” catchcry and the show will end on time no worries.
And @Rob: While I often find little is to be achieved by self-imposed boycotts, the networks are happy to use viewers as a product to sell to advertisers, so really viewers should be allowed to expect some level of respect in how shows are presented/scheduled because viewers lead to revenue/profit (in short, networks shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds them!)
@ Jay Jay i still don’t buy your argument. The point is that FTA runs late every night and i never notice foxtel running late. I can understand live finales, i have no problem with that on FTA or Foxtel.
And what is with “Just because i don’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen” . If i don’t see it on shows i watch on foxtel then it means that its not happening every night on every ch on foxtel. Which is better than FTA.
You even say ‘Foxtel overload their breaks with promos in order to run on time’. So are you saying they do run on time or not. Make up your mind.
The point is as a viewer i couldn’t care less about what is going on behind the scenes. If FTA run every night (which they do) then just put in the TV guide so we know what times their shows will start and stop treating us with such contempt.
@ Bob TT and ACA are live to air so they should also be excused
@ jay jay, The Top Model Finale is live to air, so foxtel can be excused if it ran over time
@ Vanessa, I am 100% correct in saying Foxtel run late. Look at marathons. Comedy Channel with South Park on the weekend run late. Sex and the City marathons, any live finale. I could go on. No outlandish claims from me. It happens all over. Foxtel overload their breaks with promos in order to run on time. You will often get 6-7 minute commercial breaks. FTA are not afforded that luxury. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
What I find funny is that people pay for Foxtel but don’t complain. People get FTA for free yet do nothing but complain. That doesn’t make sense to me.
Richard, I think they want to watch the program at 7pm, not ACA/TT.
Sorry jay jay i don’t buy your excuse. To say that foxtel runs late all the time is a blatant lie. There was the case you stated but it does not happen all the time. I know because i have foxtel and shows always start on time. So maybe you should check your information before making outlandish claims.
SBS deal with advertising and they don’t seem to have any problems day after day. Why has it gotten worse over the last few years when commercial TV has always had commercials. Now and then i can understand but every single day is pathetic.
Long story short to Commercial TV either fix it or continually see your numbers dwindle.
@ Davo – not that black and white and believe it or not, the networks aren’t behind some ‘running late conspiracy’. You will find that stations adjust their start times and provide this information to Oztam so ratings can be adjusted accordingly. Once again – check your information before making outlandish claims!
You cannot compare ABC with 9, 7 etc as they don’t deal with advertisements.
Foxtel runs late all the time and I never read anything on here from people complaining about that. There was the case in 08 when the Aust Top Model final ran late and they never updated their EPG, all IQs cut off the final announcement and this was done on the repeat as well. It happens. I can assure you it is unavoidable. All FTA stations time their schedules as close to on time as possible, but TV being TV, it doesn’t always go to plan. I’m sure you would be the first to complain if the news didn’t cover a major event just so it would finish on time!
For all those people complaining about ACA/TT going overtime, why are you watching these shows in the first place??
Anyways, you should realise that ACA & TT actually finish at about 6:56pm. The last ad break is only followed by a promo for tomorrow’s nights show, so why don’t you change channels before this?
@jayjay – Live TV will always run late.
You have got to be kidding.
ABC News and 7.30report and every early evening news virtually never run late. And even if a live show is running late, the commercial stations could kill some self promotions to get back on track.
The reason the commercials **purposely** run late is too bleed into the next time slot to affect ratings and keep people from watching the start of other channels programs. To suggest otherwise is disingenuous.
great work david – really appreciate you giving us the opportunity to air our greeviances. I hope the fta channels get the results – and act on them soon.
I hate it when credits are squashed up, sped up, spoken over, advertised over. are we all so hyped up on red cordial that we can’t wait for two minutes to hear a popular tv show/movie theme? and I think it shows a lot of disrespect for the makers too.
Wolfie!
Nice to see the results starting to come through…
for those who feel the need to comment about running overtime, you should actually look at the different regulations governing FTA and Foxtel. FTA have certain limits as to how much advertising and promo content they can run. It has to be exact!
Foxtel can do as they please.
Live TV will always run late. If you look at the entire night, you will find that ACA/TT may run late, but then the networks get back on track later on. It all balances in the end.
Everyone who thinks they can do a better job should get a job in TV or ask to do work experience so you can see exactly what goes on. I’m sure your opinion would change if you had to deal with rules, regulations, ACMA, Free TV and so on.
no offence to some of the people making comments but no ACMA official or Minister would take them seriously if they were read back as some research to be relied upon for decision making. Refusing to watch a show because it goes overtime, having to wait for 6 months to watch a series, overwriting credits sound like trivial cry baby complaints. FTA does contain the word free and although it shouldn’t mean rubbish it shouldn’t also mean you get everything for nothing.
While alot of the suggestions are good and logical (series run in logical order) some thinking by contributors rather than verbal diarrhea would be a good way to show those with the levers at hand that this stuff matters rather than present it in schoolboy fashion bitchin about whatever moves.
These results are not a surprise. Networks have been fielding complaints from viewers regarding start times and schedule changes for years. I remember Eddie Maguire taking calls from irate people on 2UE regarding these issues when he was CEO at Nine. He laughed them off, in his arrogant manner, and told them to watch Nine programming as it went to air or set their VCRs to stop two hours after the scheduled finish time to ensure they caught the end. That was the day I decided I would no longer bother with Nine. I persevere with Seven because at least they have the decency to play out a series to it’s conclusion and give sufficient notice of schedule changes.
I second the complaint about mixing repeats and first run shows. It is very annoying, especially when you know they have other new episodes available.
FTA networks that run overtime should have to cut advertising from the next 30 minutes to bring the schedule back on track, i can understand one major sports program going into overtime and they can get away with that. But every night ACA/TT run overtime yet the news runs on time.
My TV viewing is screwed, and hence for this i went out and got a PVR so i can skip add’s no wonder your add revenue drops considerably.
If networks were forced to cut advertising in the next 30 minutes if they run overtime they would run out very quick and buy a new more accurate clock that they seem not to have right now.
Why does ACA/TT need to do weather anyway! it was just on the news.
Nice work David! I particpated in the survey and really appreciate your work in researching the issues that FTA channels continually seem to ignore.
All the servey results should be bundled up and sent to every network, ACMA and the Minsiter. so that the people who partisipated can have the hope of the parties that should have this info get it.
There’s no surprise with these results. But maybe it will make the networks sit up and listen. Yeah and pigs will fly backwards upside-down.
Thanks David, Seems the majority of us are in agreement. I certainly agree with the results.
Love the final point “Make sure the networks get a copy of these results!!”
I’m happy we can still afford to have Foxtel !!
Interesting comments about networks showing loyalty….if programming decisions are being made based upon ratings, then I’d suggest that the ratings system is fundamentally flawed….3600 people representing 20 million?? I’d move a series late night too if the numbers didn’t stack up. The networks are there to make money. If people don’t tune in, why would they throw money away on keeping a series on with bugger all people watching?
Not really surprised by any of this.
Seven – 3%
Nine – 2%
Yes, clearly 9 is a distant last place!