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
- on
- 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 and the size they are
The first 5 are still the biggest issues for me. Nothing’s changed.
What I want to know about is when networks update their EPG, but continue to advertise the original time. For example the EPG says 8.38 but all day they play ads saying tonight 8.30. How they get away with that i’ll never know.
I don’t think online catch up or fast tracking issues are done at all. The suggestion that we could pay for a series once it’s axed is just one suggestion for the future of online programming. Viewing online also needs an overhaul, iView is still the best of a very bad bunch, even the GO app has serious bugs that get ignored. Also, the use of multi channels has to begin to change and maybe with more consistent programming can start showing some respect for the viewers.
more glbt programs on foxtel or bring Logo (mtv’s glbt channel) to foxtel.
better organisation of there channels (on foxtel)
The most pressing question re TV?
Which digital channel programme do we love most? Shaun or Peter?
One more comment if I may. Is it possible for the FTA channels to have a legal online download service for content that they intend to show, and have the rights for, but can not find a suitable timeslot.
I would be happy to pay fairly for that kind of content. I am thinking Seven and the final 6 episodes of Suits of season 2. Not even thinking of Nine and Dallas, but that kind of thing and possibly Pan Am
Foxtel and/or FTA should add International Channels like, Latin Channels from South America and more USA Channels!
I know some people will not agree but I think News should be shot straight i.e camera straight not at a crazy angle , leave that up to the talent shows if they must. I remember my first chief of staff said to me” the motion picture camera was designed to record action, not to create it” but apart from that I think you have most bases covered David,
Titles should be shown in their entireity, we deserve some recognition, theme music should not be faded down, ABC is the worst offender here only boom out next week on ABC 1 we have blah blah.
Merging the metro and regional ratings.
The story the other day proves how much important regional areas are (especially NSW and QLD). Those two combined are the 3rd largest market in Australia.
If the USA can have accurate ratings for 300+ million people, I don’t know why Australia only includes the capital cities. I know we are always 20 years behind…but c’mon. Especially when so much money is at stake.
Include the closed captioning question in Pay TV as well as FTA sections, as both desperately need an increase. Also, I wouldn’t bother including the widescreen question in the Pay TV section as currently there are only 5 (2 non-English) channels left all of which originate outside Australia. And in regards to the Aussie Content question in Pay TV, make it more so in regards to a government quota, of which a certain portion must be a genre other than reality.
Several issues are out of date and / irrelevant now:
Regional viewers already have all Digital Channels, just waiting on you metro lazy asses to finally switch.
Online Catch-Up – this is pretty much covered now isn’t it?
HD Content / HD Sport – if they redo the channels after Sydney finally switches to digital I guess they can make the main channels HD again.
More sport on Digital Channels. Seems to be done.
3D? Dead.
Programs are being Fast Tracked about as much as you can expect I reckon. Not really an ongoing issue it once was.
Widescreen on Foxtel – are there any channels left on 4:3 that have WS content?
Access via tablets? Check.
Full catch-up service Apps for all smart TV brands, not just selected brands and with limited programs.
Why do we have so many channels dedicated to infomercials… and then still play infomercials all night on the main channels
Along with finishing a series once it starts the networks should commit to a day and time. Ratings dictate changes but if they shaft a program they should do it once and stick to the new time. I don’t watch some series on FTA that I would because I think they may not rate and I’m not chasing them through the schedule.
Apart from IView better catch up sites and better online content. That would solve the above problem too.
Thanks again David for giving us a voice.
No last minute scheduling changes like double episodes e.g Arrow without sufficient notification
( I feel like I am writing my wish list for a better TV industry for viewers)
Maybe more consistent programming to respect viewers. It does seem that there has been less shows yanked off air (I know there are some consistent shows that suffer repeated issues). I know Mentalist, Person of Interest, Happy Endings, Bones, Criminal Minds, Greys Anatomy are some of the shows I am aware of from either my viewing or others complaints.
Once networks starts a series they must show it in its entirety (if not fasttracked and subject to the US or UK seasons), at least move to another channel on the network.
@ quebec. Great idea! I think the allocation of drama points needs overhauling
From my limited understanding Currently a series Like Home and Away gets less points than say packed to the Rafter did as a 22 episode serial.
I know Underbelly and Rush (latter seasons), were 13 part series which made them eligible for mini-series status. I think the mini series garners more points. Similarly Howzat and Magazine Wars also rates highly in drama points. While I respect the mini-series and a 13 part series can have a tighter better scripted story arc. Does this drama point system need overhauling to protect or enhance the Aussie drama industry?
@ Bogues Don’t forget WIld West Week Masterchef on 10!
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.
If we must have watermarks, make them accurate. Don’t tell me Underbelly will be on at 8.30 when my EPG says 8.41pm.
Get rid of Twitter\Facebook\Other App comments clutter on screen.
I’ve been going on about this for a while…I’ll try a last time.Networks somehow indicating(just by an asterisk?)in the guides,whether that program’s gonna be on the website.It’s obvious a lot of the time…we know Masterchef will play on the site later,as example.But often Sbs,which I seem to watch most, might have concurrent movies on 1 and 2..and maybe just one will appear on the web later.Would be nice to know which one that’ll be..to view live accordingly.
In FTA, how about more Australian content that isn’t reality
I’ve always wondered if anyone on here is currently or has ever been on the ratings survey panel – I’ve never met anyone who has been!
I think one of the key trends going forward will be the quality and ease of use of online content (both catch up and new) Netflix and others will soon potentially decimate much of the traditional style of tv broadcast.
ABC iview is excellent, however some of the comm chs portals are fairly crap in comparison and ease of use
Why do 10 & 7 treat the USA network shows they get like crap? I don’t get it.
even though it falls under the watermark category, maybe separate out promo watermarks. All three commercial networks have started doing it this month (x factor, big brother and sochi for 7, 9 and 10 respectively)