ABC Managing Director Russell Balding has released the latest Newspoll study of ABC audience satisfaction. It indicates 89% of Australians
believe the ABC provides a valuable service to the community.
Balding said the percentage of respondents who believed the ABC does a
good job of being efficient and well managed had increased from 61 to 68%
from the previous survey.
“It is immensely gratifying and encouraging to see the ABC remains an
appreciated and valuable part of the lives of Australians and that there was
an increase in the number of Australians who believed the ABC was well
managed. This is reflected in the Newspoll research that highlights
continued audience support for ABC programs,” said Balding.
“This research provides a confirmation that audiences are continuing to
enjoy the ABC and they consider that it provides quality content that is
distinctively Australian while doing a good job in fulfilling its Charter
obligations.”
Highlights of the survey include:
— 89% of Australians believe the ABC provides a valuable service to the
community.
— The percentage of Australians who believed the ABC does a good job of
being efficient and well managed increased from 61 to 68% from the previous
survey.
— 82% of Australians believe the ABC does a good job of being distinctively
Australian and contributing to Australia’s identity.
— Consistent with 2002, 89% of the ABC website users believe it provides
good quality information, and the proportion who believe it is “very good”
is up from 32 to 38%.
— Many more Australians (76%) believe the ABC does a good job covering
country/ regional issues than believe this about commercial media (42%).
These results are consistent with surveys conducted by Newspoll in 1998,
1999 and 2002.
The issue of being balanced and even handed was explored more specifically
in relation to the 7pm News, 7.30 Report, The World Today, AM and PM.
As
found in the 2002 survey, the vast majority (ranging from 85-93%) of viewers
or listeners believe each program does a good job of being balanced and even
handed.
The survey was conducted in June 2003 among 1,900 respondents aged 14 years and over nationally.