Audience anger: “Finish my show or tell me where it’s gone!”
In the second look at TV Tonight's Audience Inventory, Free to Air viewers are unhappy about shows not being completed, while Pay TV viewers want full access to FTA channels.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
The first results published from TV Tonight‘s Audience Inventory on Programming triggered much debate. The story was picked up by News Limited newspapers, as well as in the UK and gathered further comment on radio and online.
Today the second results look at the most pressing issues in both Free to Air and Subscription Television. The responses follow over 800 completed surveys between August 21 -31.
FREE TO AIR
The biggest gripe in Free to Air television, according to the results, was a call to Complete a Series Once it Started. This was voted the Most Important issue by 66%Â of readers.
The complaint follows numerous shows being pulled off air, many never to be returned, and represents a diminishing contract between television networks and audiences.
“My biggest peev is shows being moved or taken off at a moments notice. In fact this infuriates me,” said one reader.
“Networks now have realised they have a vested interest in their shows not running to the Guide to trick people into missing the beginning of competitors shows,” said another.
Readers were angry about scheduling changes that left them confused and uninformed. Not only do they not know why a show has disappeared, but they felt uninformed about whether the show would return, and indeed where to source an answer.
These disappearing shows were only just ahead of Shows Starting / Finishing on Time at 63% followed by Programming Matching a Published Guide which ranked 53% as Very Important.
“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 day’s programs, let alone the next week’s,” said one reader.
It was echoed by others: “The other problem is movies listed in the published newspaper guides get changed at the last minute which is really frustrating.”
With so many scheduling changes, many readers pointed to the need for EPGs to be both accurate and updated. In a digital age, readers said this was a critical issue.
“I don’t mind what time shows start, just as long as the times match to the EPG, and preferably other guides too,” said one reader.
Another added: “The weekly newspaper guide is unreliable (not the fault of the newspaper!), EPG is pretty hit and miss (ABC the best, SBS the worst, ie. they don’t have one, WIN and Southern Cross pretty terrible, TDT pretty good).”
Several complimented TEN’s EPG updating:
“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. GO is the absolute best thing Nine has done in a long time. ABC2 just plain rules, and has since I went digital in early ’07.”
Other viewers had given up on ‘appointment television’ altogether.
“I’d rather pay $50 for a box and watch when I want without ads than have to make an appointment with the tele to watch the drama stuff I enjoy,” said one.
Many admitted to illegal downloading, particularly for shows that weren’t fastracked.
Other top issues rated as Very Important included Fastracking (46%), Online Catch Ups (37%) and Banning Late Night Phone Sex Ads and Reducing On Screen Clutter (both 35%).
The question considered the least important was Overhauling Classifications (11%).
SUBSCRIPTION TV
In the Pay TV sector the biggest concern for viewers was Adding all Free to Air Channels (63%).
This follows satellite viewers in some cities still unable to see Channel Seven on the Foxtel platform. Other satellite viewers have also been unable to see ONE HD, ONE SD and GO!
“As a regional WA person, we don’t get ONE and GO! just yet. As far as I know, if you are a Foxtel Satellite subscriber in WA (in general) you don’t get the FTA channels – annoying,” complained one reader.
“Also FTA stations need to be available on satellite Foxtel, drop some of the crap stations noone watches between 170 and 180, and there you will have like 5 spots for free to air to be using,” said another.
One reader had a unique marketing idea: “Would love more multichannels, or one or more new FTA nets or low end Foxtel channels like in the UK where Sky offers a few of their channels for free to entice customers.”
Next issue of concern was More Diverse Packaging Options (53%).
“Pay TV should be cheaper, Foxtel is an overpriced Monopoly,” said one reader.
Another went further: “Foxtel is a rip off really and should introduce more individual packaging options. It should also get rid of the automated phone response that assumes your problems – and then they have the nerve to advertise ‘We’re always there when you need us’ showing a call centre person.”
Regional viewers also got in on the pricing issue.
“Austar prices need to come down. Pay TV networks need to go widescreen regardless of the amount of widescreen content. Austar needs better on-screen graphics. Networks need to make more shows available online,” said one.
Another agreed: “Austar forces me into certain packages and paying crazy amounts of money for channels I don’t want (mainly would buy for sport). If this ever, changed, I’d consider getting it.”
The next issues for Pay TV were Widescreen for All Channels (50%), Less Ads (44%), Adding New Channels (43%), and An Improved EPG (36%).
The least important issue was a call for an iPhone Application (13%).
One viewer seemed to sum up all the Pay issues in one response: “The main problem with Pay TV is the packaging of channels. The fact that you cant bundle say a movie pack with the sport pack is just stupid. The monthly magazine should be free, I thought they messed up when they sent me it for free in the first month! Seven’s digital channel launching, and Foxtel broadcasting its channels in widescreen are the most pressing issues involving television at the moment!”
TV Tonight‘s survey results are not presented as scientific evidence. A third and final report will follow soon.
31 Responses
i agree with @paul.
It’s common sense why some shows just disappear after a week. The whole concept of waiting a few weeks to find an audience may not eventuate. (eg 7pm Project). Everything is so cut throat now. I will be really surprised if the 7pm Project makes it through the month. Shareholders want profit.
And Channel 9 is a joke. Warner Bros. produces a lot of great television, yet we are left with constant repeats of 2.5 Men. Having said that, I’m glad the networks are focusing on delivering online catch-up television, and maybe the Channel 9/WB online distribution will be a great way for Channel 9 to hold onto its programs, leaving the more vulnerable shows to GO. I think that is a step in the right direction.
Also in the year 2009, Channel Seven still believes holding episodes of Desperate Housewives, et al, for four to five months after they’ve premiered in the US until the beginning of our ratings period is a good thing? Serialised shows are the most illegally downloaded shows. The decline in ratings for all of Channel 7’s US drama is a testament to that At least premiere the season during the same week and hold any episodes shown during non-ratings weeks until February. At least the episodes won’t be sold old.
Another insightful results write-up – we know you’re reading networks – please listen to us…
I really feel like a freak for not actually wanting too many channels and refusing to even consider Foxtel. I honestly don’t want more than about 10 channels to choose from – I just want them to have a good reliable programming with some decent variety.
Too many channels means there’s less advertising dollar going into producing (or buying) high quality shows in this (let’s face it, comparitively small) market.
If I can’t find something to watch on our FTA Digital stations, I happilly play PS3, do something on my laptop or keep myself amused some other way.
I agree with Michael’s summary and all the contained points … i have been frustrated and screaming about this for years … that is exactly why I got a high download limit and don’t expect the “free to air” channels to treat anything decently (unless it is one of their in-house “jobs for the boys” productions). Foxtel etc are too expensive and far too inflexible … they can go jump!
The phone sex adds are revolting … thankfully we tape everything we can on HD PVR and fast forward …
Bring on 7HD2 and another 10HD channel that is not all sport!!!! Please!
Jack!
Tivo maybe will solve some of the problems?
Geez, tell Tom Cruise to stop shouting at the TV and to sit back down on the couch (no jumping!).
I agree with the comments re the Iphone app. Stats can mislead, I know lots of people who have Iphones. Unless it is clear how many people answering the survey have Iphones it is misleading to think this is not a significant issue for the public
13% seems like a high number to me, this is considering 800 + did the survey.
I think this survey can only be a step forward. Why doesn’t the Herald Sun do a survey (like the Footy Fans Survey) re tv. They would get a massive response?????
Digital spy article.
Mac, a handful of previous stories have attracted international press through Digital Spy before.
im probably being too optimistic but maybe now the nine network will start to clean up there act, if they don’t they will just continue to prove that they really don’t care about what the viewer thinks(the hands that feed them) congratulation on the coverage that this survey has gotten in the media(is this the first time that a tvtonight article has been mentioned in international media, do you have a link to the uk article)
ps; love the picture lol
@ Rick – I fully support your views with regard to the iPhone app. I want one, and now 🙂
Austar would be cheaper if we had choice. There’s no good reason why we shouldn’t be allowed to get Foxtel Satellite if we want it. If I lived 15 minutes away I would be allowed that option.
I’d get the iPhone app when I get an iPhone later in the year.
I’d have to say the only issue I have with Austar (apart from the cost) is the lack of 16×9 on channels like Arena, TV1, Comedy Ch and a few others, all 4×3 should be updated to 16×9. The other complaint is the total lack of an HD channels. I would hope when we get these updates that they don’t increase the price again…
Phone Sex ads I don’t mind (though I do worry that someone would pay for that when essentially you get much more for free anyhow!) but the ones that sh*t me are those stupid Love Calculator ads which seem to have endless play on the niche channels (E!, MTV) they’ve even got one that purports to calculate your time of death! I don’t mind that cable takes their ads (it’s a free country) but seriously who is purchasing these products in the first place??
FTA tv networks continue to shoot themselves in the foot, and will continue to do this until they work out that beating the Joneses is not the way to win viewers, just because channel 7 run late does not mean that 9 or ten need to run late to try and keep viewers, if you run on time you’ll win more viewers because normalcy can be returned to the day to day lives. Last night the news started close to a minute early, i’m sorry 7 but it starts at 6pm not 5:59:05 thats why you called it the 6pm news.
Go! has proven that shows can run on time and is so showing up 9 at the moment.
Generally a new show comes on over here i watch one episode then download the series, purely because i know the networks are going to scrap it or skip an episode or not show them in order. i have series records set in my PVR that each week change sometimes at 2am others at 10pm it’s a joke networks and i hope you loose mega bucks this year, because maybe then you’ll learn a lesson.
I gave up on free tv when seven destroyed the Stargate franchise and 24, nine destroyed erm mutilated the mini series The Triangle and pretty much all it’s scifi endeavours and TEN when it destroyed Smallville, Eureka and Supernatural.
I havent watched any prime-time free tv drama AU/US, comedy AU/US, reality shows, cooking shows, dancing shows, gardening shows et cetera et cetera et cetera for years, with the exception of Patrol Boat, sorry Sea Patrol, I don’t have pay, as Michael says about that in his list “5 pay packages inflexible” and I haven’t looked back
> The least important issue was a call for an iPhone Application (13%).
Wow .. that’s huge. Seriously huge. It might have come last in the everyone-who-responded category, but think about the number of iPhone users. They’re the only people who would possibly vote for that option, and there’s nowhere near 13% of the general population with an iPhone.
This means that somewhere near 100% of respondants that have an iPhone have listed that as their most important issue.
[I’m not a respondant, but I love that I can remotly record on my IQ from the web. But as it’s a flash app, I can’t remote-record from my iPhone.]
Being a loyal viewer to this website I consistenly read comments by other viewers or pages about the free to air nextworks not sticking to there original schedule changing shows at the last minute. I have to say while it has happened to me before the last time I remember it happening was during the first season of battlestar galactica airing on ten. When they moved it to a later slot. I find my epg extremely reliable. Everytime I put a timer on a show, when the timer is activated. Its always the show I intended to watch. These people complaining about it must be the ones that sit at home and just watch tv. So obviously its bound to happen to them. And about the seasons or shows not being completed I do wish they would finish (that’s if I like the show) but I also understand why. The networks need to show top rating shows. Its free to air. They need the money from advertisers.
I really feel I shouldnt even need to write this, its common sense.
Err, DVB-S/C and DVB-T, I meant.
Surely the best solution for Pay TV would be to use dual tuners (DVB-S/C and DVB-C), SelecTV and Austar (MyStar) already offer this. Would save a lot of space on the satellite I would assume.
By the way… is that a picture of you releasing your frustrations? 🙂
Great work David! Hopefully the networks will now start to take notice and action.
Nice to see the other press picking up the story, maybe the networks will listen now…
ITA it’s annoying how many shows get canceled never to return or they return without notice (apart from your site) only to be dumped late night or maybe passed on the PayTV. Good thing we now have GO! for Nine to dump shows that don’t work and keep them on FTA.
EPG – I don’t know it’s the same else where but often here in regional QLD guides just don’t work and when they do we never get updated start times even thought many shows start 5-10 late on most FTA channels most nights. Mean while on PayTV they adjust them most of the time. An example is last night on Fox8 the 7.35 show (According to the printed guide) didn’t start until 7.38 and they adjusted it on screen. Why can’t FTA do this?
Austar Package Bundling is a large issue for alot of customers attempting to understand subscription tv structure
But I wish more people had mystar so they would care more about an iphone app
Thanks David , interesting read.
As a consumer it’s good to know others feel the same as you.
lets see if ive got this,
1 shows disappear after one or two episodes
2 most programmes dont start on time
3 Foxtel’s a rip,
4 austar is pathetic
5 pay packages inflexible
6 not all Australian’s are equal with these new digital channels
7 to much clutter on our screens
8 an overwhelming majority dont like phone sex ads
9 and were just waiting for sevens 2nd sd channel
Yes that sounds about right im sure ive missed some stuff though