Viewers' views lukewarm on TVNZ quality

We already know that the Prime Minister can't find anything worth watching on New Zealand television - but how about the rest of us?

Less than half of the people surveyed in a Herald-DigiPoll survey think the quality of programmes TVNZ screens is good, and more think it is "very bad" rather than "very good."

Five per cent feel that the quality of the state broadcaster's programmes is "very good," 35 per cent say it is good, 26 per cent think it is average and 11 per cent consider it "very bad."

And many of the 756 people interviewed believe that the quality of programmes shown by the state broadcaster has remained stagnant or grown worse in the past two years.

Only 15 per cent think that the programmes have improved, compared to 40 per cent who consider the standard has dropped or stayed the same (39 per cent).

National voters, Maori, women, Aucklanders and those in households earning less than $44,000 a year are most happy with the present quality of shows, as are those interviewed in the 18-to-39 age bracket.

People aged over 40 are not so impressed, with 32 per cent saying the quality is good, 20 per cent believing it is bad, 11 per cent saying very bad and 27 per cent judging it between good and bad.

Rural viewers are more critical of the current quality than their urban counterparts, with 24 per cent compared with 17 per cent saying it is bad.

But rural and urban television watchers who say that the quality is good are much more closely aligned, at 35 and 36 per cent.

Almost half of the farmers polled say TVNZ's programmes have become worse in the past two years.

Their views are shared, although not so strongly, by people outside Auckland, men, those with incomes over $44,000, and people aged over 40.

Political scientist Joe Atkinson says the survey results show a marginal relationship between television ratings and perceptions of quality.

"There are a lot of people out there who expressed themselves dissatisfied with quality who are watching quite a lot of television."

Mr Atkinson is not surprised that older viewers are critical of the quality and feel dissatisfied.

He says they are often neglected in an advertising-driven media like television, which targets younger people with more disposable income, yet they are the most habitual viewers.

Mr Atkinson says the poll is a good argument for "not operating on purely commercial pressures."

"Lots of people will watch crap but public service television should aspire to produce more than bums on seats for advertising."