Audience Inventory survey coming soon…
An open invitation.... what TV issues need to be included in this year's survey, please?
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
Ok guys, here’s an open invitation from me to you….
I’m about to launch the annual Audience Inventory for the 5th year running. As most readers know this is a comprehensive survey about the way we watch television: networks, multichannels, catch-up, Pay TV, guides and EPGs, trustworthiness and reliability in programming, second-screens etc.
Across the years I have run this it has identified a number of trends, and led to various articles in the mainstream media. In order to have that kind of impact it does require as many readers as possible to fill out the 30+ questions (cheers in advance!).
One of the sections is about the issues that are of concern to you most in FTA and Pay TV. I’ve seen a fair bit of conversation lately about inaccurate EPGs and too many watermarks.
Before I lock off this section I thought I would do a quick check to make sure I have the most pressing issues on the survey. I’m doing a bit of group focus here!
To give you an idea here were the issues featured in the last survey:
FREE TO AIR
Keeping an EPG up to date
Shows starting / finishing on time
Finishing a series once it starts
Fast-tracking
Punishment for breaches of the Code of Practice
More HD content of flagship shows
Playing sport live and in HD
Reducing on screen clutter (watermarks etc)
Online catch-ups
More funding for public broadcasters
ABC maintaining in-house productions
Regional viewers getting digital channels
Allowing more sport on Digital Channels
Promos that fairly represent the show
More subtitles for the hearing impaired
Requiring Aussie content on Digital Channels
Having TV classifications match Film classifications
Letting credits roll at the end of a show
Implementing new Anti-Siphoning List rules
3D broadcasts
Merging public broadcasters
PAY TV:
Adding all FTA digital channels
Fast-tracking
Aligning all FTA channels on EPG Menu
Less ads
More packaging options
Satellite customers to access all FTA channels
Widescreen for all channels
Adding new channels
More HD channels
Allowing permanent channel access via tablets
Maintaining innovative features ie. Remote record, 3D, Downloading
Upgrading IQ
Improving customer service
More Aussie content
I have a few others in mind to add, but if there’s anything pressing now is a good time to speak up!
38 Responses
Watermarks need to be moved to the extreme position of screen to avoid issues with sub-titles. Promos need to be restricted where a program includes text on screen in the form of location information or subtitles
reality programs running overtime; inaccurate EPG times and listings; lack of FTA channels on foxtel in regions (esp Canberra); Foxtel changing to premium channel of a series first seen on basic service when next season is transmitted; lack of FTA catchup on Viera;
HD content on SD channels has been really disappointing, given most bought large HD panels, but the intrusive promos that don’t go away for the whole show, are the last straw for me, as far as FTA is concerned. I have ceased watching any show with a permanent watermark promo. It is so unneccesary. I don’t need to read it 1000 times, in one night. It is like trying to look at a biilboard, and not read it. Looking at supplementing my viewing via other means.
Agreed with pretty much all of these. Will note one thing on Online catch-ups – not sure where @MichaelQ gets the “Access via tablets? Check.” as there’s definitely progress yet to be made there.
I’m looking at the Plus7 site on my iPad now and get “PLUS7 is not currently available on your device. Please register your details to be notified…” etc. Nine is the same: “We’re sorry, the video you are looking for cannot be viewed on this device”. Credit to Channel Ten for finally ditching their Flash-based catch-up monstrosity, although I’m not sure if it’s still completely riddled with ads…
Foxtel – Series link actually means series link. It does not mean record the same episode of the same show is on during the same week eg I series linked Giulana and Bill and guess what happened? Instead of just recording it every Monday at 8.30 on Style it recorded that night plus the next night plus another night and one on the weekend. Like really I only need it once. It’s happened to other series as well. Plus sometimes the series link disappears altogether so I have to keep a constant eye on it when I really shouldn’t have to.
The EPG needs to be updated when shows run overtime so we get the shows we want to see, if we are recording the next show.
The watermarks need to not be so big especially the other week when I was watching offspring and the watermark for masterchef was on… way to long and distracting.
Oh and Neighbours should finish at 7pm not 7.06pm and Home & Away…
Totally agree with tomothyd:
Not editing down a 22 or 42 min show to fit in more commercials when the allocated time is right for the length of the show and/or not cutting into a scene with a commercial where the show was not designed to take a commercial at that point.
No watermarks or any interference once the commercials are done.
No Twitter\Facebook\Other App comments clutter on screen.
Australian content laws need overhauling.
What about a use it or lose it policy for networks sitting on shows they don’t know what to do with or take an age to screen?
Two that come to mind for me right now are the last 4 episodes ever of The Big C that Nine/Gem are sitting on and Ten/Eleven sitting on Californication Season 6.
If they don’t have the confidence to give shows like this a time slot, then make them available online as a minimum.
Australian book publishers lose copyright if they don’t make overseas titles available within 30 days of their publication. It’s time for a similar rule for TV.
I get annoyed by large channel bugs that also promote other shows, events some of which are 6 months or more away. And related – animated onscreen promos popping up during programs.
Onscreen integration of social media comments is likewise unwanted. This was especially irritating during Eurovision where the postcards portion of the broadcast was shrunk so we could instead read comments from the twitter stream.
Foxtel content has become largely too commercial/populist. I would like to see a return to inclusion of some more niche/offbeat programming like in the early days (such as the original incarnation of Arena and Nick at Nite).
FTA HD channels are largely wasting the capability of HD. ABC News and GEM especially.
Also, a general comment about the commercial networks – promos/voice overs seem to me to be mundane, formulaic, and unappealing. Example: “Ripper Street -…
A good list, David. Well done. Cross promo tickers annoy me. How much would we pay for Foxtel? Package ideas we would see as reasonable? Would ppl watch an Aussie produced sitcom over reality shows? I enjoy drama, but I think we miss the opportunity to have a laugh with ourselves. Surely there are enough American staples on air that ppl enjoy to give someone a creative idea or two.
OK so some new ideas:
Get Quickflix to offer a Streaming Only option.
NetFlicks in Australia
Get Quickflix / iView / Netflix / BBC / Foxtel Go onto Apple TV in Aus.
Stop Foxtel from moving “bundled” content into Premium Channel packages (Trek & Sci Fi Shows in general – used to be on TV1 now on Sci Fi which has to be paid for. Newsroom – launched on SoHo, now on Showcase)
Seriously enforce the Use It or Lose It – clearly none of the commercial channels want the Olympics.
Ban Alcohol Advertising – starting with sports.
Ban Gambling Advertising – starting with sports sponsorship.
I don’t think it would be surprising that the two issues I most have a problem with is the inappropriate ads during the programming. Watermarks, pop-ups, other crap, as well as mentioning shows in an inappropriate way like on the News and Sport. Plus other. It basically tells the viewer it is perfectly fine with television to completely skip the ads in the ad breaks. And they’ve given them a way to do it. Enabling the very problem they supposedly don’t want.
I also think showing a show week after week reliably is best for the show, viewers and probably the ratings. Lastly sensible start times.
Your FTA list pretty much covers it for me altho’ I would drop the last three items as mostly irrelevant now and add, per Andyh2, changing the public reporting of ratings to include regional data.
David: Why not add a question about regional news: and then see how it compares with the responses that the current ACMA investigation will deliver from the industry.