Audience Inventory: Free to Air results

The readers of TV Tonight have spoken.

More than 1000 Audience Inventory surveys were completed this year, more than any survey yet conducted on the site. And at 27 questions long, that shows serious dedication to your feelings on television and the industry.

In the first of a 2 part report, here are the results of questions about Free to Air TV.

81% of readers watch Free to Air TV, with both ABC1 / TEN tied as the most popular channels, followed by Seven, GO!, Nine, ABC2, 7TWO and SBS ONE. Imparja was voted the least popular, but regional and community channels notwithstanding ABC3 was the lowest of the broad channels.

When it comes to reliability of programming viewers held very strong opinions.

On the question of starting programmes on time ABC blew the competition out of the water. Foxtel ranked a decent second place. ABC also won this question in 2009.

There was division on the channel considered the most unreliable for starting on time. But readers gave it to Channel Seven, just ahead of Nine, which was last year’s ‘winner.’

ABC was also a clear leader on the most Trustworthy network at delivering shows, as it was in 2009. Foxtel again came second.

On the question of being Untrustworthy, Nine received the most votes. This time it was considerably ahead of Seven. So while viewers slapped Seven for starting shows late, they were clearer in their verdict on Nine’s overall programming. Nine also took out this category last year.

They also gave Seven a nod for being best at rescheduling cancelled shows, with ABC a close second place. Again, Nine was deemed the worst at returning shows that have been cancelled. Both Seven and Nine were voted best / worst for returning cancelled shows in 2009.

On Screen EPGs and Online Guides were almost neck and neck as the most widely used form of Guide. iPhone and iPad Guides ranked surprisingly low.

A huge 90% of readers have already made the switch to HD, up from 80% last year, with HD TVs the runaway winner over an HD Set Top Box. 38% of readers do not own a PVR of any kind.

As best digital multichannel it was ABC2 that got the big tick from readers followed by 7TWO and GO! Least engaging readers were ABC3 and SBS TWO.

Once again the burning issue for viewers was the question of finishing a series once it has started. This also ranked the highest votes in the 2009 survey.

– If networks continue to falsely claim they will fastrack and then not leave series to play, they will continue to loose viewers to other formats inc illegal downloads.

– I find it amazing that commercial tv is about getting viewers to watch, yet treating them with complete contempt when it comes to scheduling and programming. They want people not to pirate, then give them plenty of reason by not making it easy to watch shows due to constantly changing timeslots and innaccurate start times!

– FTA needs to be consistent in showing series from start to finish.

– Get shows started on time and stop promising shows and not delivering.

– Would prefer to watch tv on dvd so that I at least know how a series finishes.

– They need to commit to airing whole series, otherwise make it all available online.

It was followed by readers wanting the EPG kept up to date and a desire for shows to start / end on time. The importance of Fastracking also raked in many votes.

– Nine, Seven and Ten – get the shows to start on time!! Can’t you people read the time?

– Nine/GO! Need to start their shows on time! And GO! needs some goddamn consistency in programming!

– Don’t stuff around with times – and please be honest as to what time a show will start. i don’t mind if a show starts at 8:41pm – just don’t tell me it starts at 8:30!

– If only Channel 7 could start Packed To The Rafters on time! Also, all of the ad breaks should be the same distance apart – don’t leave a big gap at the beginning and then quick short breaks after that.

Other issues ranking high this year include Playing Live Sport on time, Reducing on screen clutter, and Regional viewers are unhappy about missing out on digital channels (take note Gillard govt).

– As a Perth viewer, having access to live sport is number 1 issue. eg Friday night AFL being delayed by 3 hours (coverage starts when game finished). Let Main Event show the friday night games live in WA (like they do in NSW and Qld).

– Want more live sport on FTV. It’s ridiculous that networks cannot screen live TV on their digital networks (e.g. AFL live into Sydney and N NSW on 7Two or One) without doing the same on their main channel.

– Being a region area its frustrating we dont get ALL the channels the mainland gets. Its also frustrating when you get the same thing on 3 channels due to catering to the analogue market.

– Tassie shouldn’t be treated as an after thought for additional channel rollout.

– Why no digital channels in south west WA?

But there was also praise for the introduction of new channels and online catch-ups.

-I can’t wait for ELEVEN. Then the suite of general entertainment channels will actually include something worthwhile. TEN will rock.

– Improving with more choice and digital stations, as well as online catchups which I use quite a bit.

– The new choice that we already have is great and can’t wait for ELEVEN and 7mate.

– The ABC is fast becoming the only channel I ever need to watch. And please make a point that the Iview player, is far better than channel 7 or channel 9’s.

– Improving with the additional channels but there is still a long way to go insofar as giving us GOOD tv.

– Love my TV

One reader summed up their passion pretty well, simply saying “Love TV, Hate TV.”

Far and away the most unimportant issue was 3D television, clearly being considered a fad. There was also a strong vote against merging public broadcasters, either as a bad idea or a low priority.

52% of viewers said neither Violence, Sexual content or Strong Language offended them, although 32% put Violence ahead of other choices.

And when it comes to the demographic make-up of TV Tonight readers, you are more male than female, 66% aged between 18-39, 63% in NSW and Victoria with 79% visiting the site once a day or more.

94% voted the site Excellent or Very Good. Across the two surveys in 2009 / 10 nobody has yet voted Disappointing.

Thank you for the truly fabulous comments about the site, they were overwhelming.

Results of the Pay TV questions are coming soon.