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Snapshot of the 2009 on-line consultation on television services

 

The Commission reports herein the results of its online consultation on television services. Given the number of Canadians who posted comments as part of the online consultation, different samples were randomly selected for analysis. As a result, the Commission notes that the charts presented here do not represent a detailed quantitative study, but merely provide a snapshot of what consumers were thinking. Further, the percentages expressed represent the number of responses to a particular question, bearing in mind that, given the nature of the online consultation, some individuals may have given the same response multiple times.
The Commission is also mindful that the views expressed here do not represent the views of all Canadians but rather the views of parties that have chosen to participate because they have a specific position to express.  
The Commission raised three topics as part of the online consultation:

  1. Affordability
  2. Choice
  3. Digital transition

Topic 1: Affordability:

Chart 1 sets out responses to the question “How would you react if you were asked to pay for local TV on top of what you already pay for your cable and satellite services?” These percentages are based on a sample of 3113 responses to this question.

Chart 1 breaks down responses the question :How would you react if you were asked to pay for local TV on top of what you already pay for your cable and satellite services? 76% indicated they would not pay, 10% stated they would pay, and 14% provided other responses.


Chart 2 sets out the reasons given in the 10% of responses noted in Chart 1 above that indicated they were willing to pay more for local TV:

  • 4% of the responses said they would pay because they value local TV. 
  • 2% of the responses said that they would pay because they have no other choice. 
  • 2% of the responses said that they would pay but they would choose smaller packages to compensate for the extra cost. 
  • 1% of the responses said that they would pay because they live in a rural community and have no other choice of provider.
  • 1% provided other responses.

 

 

Chart 2 breaks down responses to the question: Why would you pay an additional fee? 4% said they valued local TV, 2% said they had no other choice, 2% said they would choose smaller packages,1% said they lived in a rural community, and 1% provided other responses.



Chart 3 sets out the reasons why the 76% of responses, noted in Chart 1 above, indicated that they were not willing pay more for local TV:

  • 14% of the responses said that they would not pay because they believe that local TV stations do not need a bailout.
  • 13% of the responses said that they would not pay and that they would cancel their cable or satellite service. 
  • 8% of the responses said they would not pay because they cannot afford it.
  • 8% of the responses said that they would not pay because they do not value local television.
  • 7% of the responses said they would not pay and would move to another platform.  
  • 4% of the responses said that they would not pay because broadcasters spend too much on American programming.
  • 3% of the responses said that they would not pay because they get their information through other means. 
  • 3% of the responses would not pay because they get their signals off air. 
  • 2% of the responses said that they would not pay because they get their local programming through the community channel.
  • 14% provided other responses.

 

 

Chart three breaks down responses to the question: Why would you not pay an additional fee? 8% said they could not afford it, 14% said local TV doesn’t need a bailout, 4% said television broadcasters spend too much on U.S. programming, 8% do not value local TV, 3% get information through other means, 2% get local programming through the community channel, 3% receive signals off air, 13% would cancel BDU service, 7% would move to another platform, and 14% gave other responses.

 


Chart 4 sets out responses to the question “What measures could be taken to support local TV?” The sample is based on 30% of the 3113 respondents from Chart 1 who answered this question.

Based on the 30% breakdown of those responses to this question:

  • 12% said that no measures should be taken. 
  • 6% said that the CRTC should modify its rules. 
  • 3% said that some measures should be taken, but did not elaborate. 
  • 3% said that the community channel should provide local programming.
  • 2% said that local TV should receive financial support.     

 

Chart 4 breaks down responses to the question: What measures could be taken to support local TV? 12% said no measures should be taken, 3% said some measure should be taken, 6% said the CRTC should modify its rules, 2% said local TV should receive financial support, 3% said the community channel provides local programming and 4% provided other responses.

Topic 2: Choice

Chart 5 breaks down the responses to the question “Are you satisfied with the way television programming is made available to you by your cable and satellite company?” These percentages are based on a sample of 1104 responses to this question.

Based on the 1104 responses to this question:

  • 91% of the responses indicated that they were not satisfied. 
  • 9% of the responses said that they were satisfied. 

 

Chart 5 breaks down responses to the question: Are you satisfied with the way television programming is made available to you by your cable and satellite company? 91% were not satisfied and 9% were satisfied.


Chart 6 provides a breakdown of those responses that indicated that they were not satisfied with the way television programming is made available: “Not satisfied - How would you prefer the channels be offered?”

  • 15% of the responses said they would like more choice. 
  • 62% of the responses said they should be able to choose only what they want to watch. 
  • 3% of responses said that cable and satellite companies should have a low cost basic service. 
  • 1% of the respondents said billing should be more transparent.
  • 4% of responses did not provide a reason for dissatisfaction.
  • 6% provided other responses.

 

Chart 6 breaks down the responses of those not satisfied to the question: How would you prefer that channels be offered? 15% called for more choice, 62% said they should be able to choose what they watch, 3% said that BDUs should have a low cost basic service, 1% said billing should be more transparent, 4% did not provide a reason for their dissatisfaction and 6% gave other responses.


Chart 7 sets out positive responses to the question “Do the options available from cable and satellite providers represent good value?”  The percentages are based on a sample of 1104 responses to this topic.  Ten percent of the responses agreed that the options available from cable and satellite providers represent good value.

Reasons given for why the options available from cable and satellite providers provide good value include:

  • 2% of the responses said they only pay for the options that they want. 
  • 1% of the responses said that the programming provides the information that they need. 
  • 4% of the responses said that it was good value compared to other entertainment.
  • 2% of the responses said that cable and satellite companies have added to or upgraded the service.
  • 1% provided other reasons.

 

Chart 7 breaks down the responses of those who felt that the options available are of good value. 2% said they pay for options they want, 1% said programming provides information they need, 4% said BDUs provide good value compared to other entertainment, 2% said BDUs are adding and upgrading service, and 1% provided other responses.


Chart 8 sets out negative responses to the question “Do the options available from cable and satellite providers represent good value?”  Forty-one percent of the responses indicated that the options available from cable and satellite providers do not represent good value.

Reasons given for why the options available from cable and satellite providers do not represent good value include:

  • 7% of the responses said that the quality of the programming is poor. 
  • 7% of the responses said that the programming is repetitive. 
  • 7% of the responses said that there is not enough local programming. 
  • 4% of the responses said that there is not enough high definition programming.
  • 16% provided other responses.

 

Chart 8 breaks down the responses of those who considered that the options available are not of good value. 7% said programming is of poor quality, 7% said programming is repetitive, 7% said there is not enough local programming, 4% said there is not enough high definition programming, and 16% provided other responses.

Topic 3: Digital transition:

Chart 9 sets out positive responses to the question “Does the industry require support or incentives to implement the digital transition?” These percentages are based on 578 responses to this question.

Reasons given by the 34% of responses stating that the industry requires support or incentives to implement the digital transition include:

  • 3% of the responses said that programming in digital should be equally available to all. 
  • 8% of the responses supported the concept of a satellite service to provide local television programming after the analog shutdown. 
  • 3% of the responses said support for the digital transition is needed sooner. 
  • 17% of the responses said that the industry needs support, but gave no reasons. 
  • 3% of the responses said consumers need support. 

 

Chart 9 breaks down the responses of those who considered that the industry requires support or incentives to implement the digital transition. 3% said that support is needed to ensure equal penetration of programming in digital, 8% considered that it would allow for the development of Free Sat, 3% said that support is needed sooner, 17% said that the industry needs support, and 3% said consumers need support.


Chart 10 sets out negative responses to the question “Does the industry require support or incentives to implement the digital transition?” These percentages are based on 578 responses to this question.

Reasons given by the 66% of responses that indicated that the industry does not require support or incentives to implement the digital transition options include:

  • 12% of the responses said that only the fittest should survive and those that can’t compete should fail.
  • 6% of the responses said that the industry has had a long time to prepare for this transition. 
  • 6% of the responses said that the local TV business model is no longer relevant. 
  • 11% of the responses said let market forces prevail.
  • 13% of the responses said that businesses should resolve this issue at their own expense. 
  • 5% of the responses said that the decision to keep analog should be a consumer’s choice
  • 8% said “No.”
  • 5% provided other responses. 

 
Chart 10 breaks down the responses of those who considered that the industry does not require support or incentives to implement the digital transition. 12% stated that only the fittest should survive, 6% stated that the industry has had a long time to prepare for the transition, 6% said that the business model is no longer relevant, 13% said market forces should prevail, 13% said BDUs should resolve the issue at their own expense, 5% said consumers should have the choice of analog, 8% said “No”, and 5% provided other responses.

  Date Modified: 2010-03-23

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