Audience satisfied with SRG programming - local radio better than local TV
The SRG's radio and television programs perform best with the public. Private local radio stations were rated similarly well in a representative public survey. Regional television fared less well, as reported by the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) on Tuesday.
Of all electronic media, the public rated SRG radio as the best in terms of quality (74% satisfaction). Comprehensibility, professionalism, credibility and the relevance of the information on offer were rated as the strengths of public service radio. SRG television received the second-highest marks (66% satisfaction). It also scored well in the same four criteria.
Overall, the audience rates private local radio stations similarly to SRG TV (64% satisfaction). Here, comprehensibility and the importance of local and regional events are seen as strengths. In contrast, the relevance of the information offered and the balance are rated lower than with SRG. In addition, the range of information on politics, business and culture is rated as below average in a media comparison.
Lower marks for regional television
In terms of quality, regional television receives the lowest rating in the media comparison. The quality of comprehensibility and the importance of local content were rated as good. However, the audience gave poor marks to the entertainment value, the balance of the program and the professionalism of the program creators and their contributions.
On average, the most frequently used medium by the Swiss public is SRG television programs. Daily newspapers are in second place, followed by the Internet and foreign television programs. SRG radio is in fifth place.
About the study
The study results come from a telephone survey (November 2009) conducted by the Demoscope research institute on behalf of Prof. Dr. Heinz Bonfadelli and Dr. Benjamin Fretwurst from the IPMZ (Institute of Mass Communication and Media Research at the University of Zurich). The study was financed by Bakom. It is part of a research package to monitor the quality of radio and television programming, which includes audience surveys, program analyses and an examination of SRG's online offering. The research program is intended to stimulate public discussion about the performance of radio and television broadcasters. The results of the program analyses will be published at the end of January 2011.
