canadian broadcasting and public opinion
TRANSCRIPT
Tracking public opinion A comparison of selected results from the November 2011 and previous FCB surveys
December 9, 2011
2 | P a g e
Note: Question numbers refer to the November 2011 survey.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Very important Somewhatimportant
Not veryimportant
Not at allimportant
Don't know
%Q2. Do you feel that the Canadian television and radio production
industry is important to the Canadian economy and jobs?
Current May-09
0
10
20
30
40
50
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhatdisagree
Strongly disagree Don’t know
Q3. Is Canadian programming and content on TV & radio important in maintaining and developing Canadian culture and identity?
Current May-09
3 | P a g e
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
CBC TV only CBC radio/TV CBC radio only Neither
%Q5. In a typical week, do you watch CBC television or tune into
CBC Radio?
Current May-09
0
10
20
30
40
50
Very important Somewhatimportant
Not veryimportant
Not at allimportant
Don't know
%
Q6. Do you feel that the CBC plays an important role in your community?
Current May-09
4 | P a g e
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Very important Somewhat important Not Very Important Not at all important Don't know
%Q7. Do you feel that the CBC is important in protecting Canadian identity and culture?
Current May-09
5 | P a g e
78
84
9 10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Current May-09 Current May-09
Strongly/somewhat Agree Strongly/somewhat disagree
%Q8. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the CBC?
The CBC is one of the things that helps distinguish Canada from the US
The CBC provides value for taxpayers' money
As Canada’s economic ties with the United States increase, it is becoming more important to strengthen Canadian culture and identity
We should build a new CBC capable of providing high quality Canadian programming with strong regional content throughout Canada
I would like to see CBC strengthened in my part (region) of Canada
To survive and prosper, Canada needs the CBC.
6 | P a g e
Rating CBC’s Performance
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Excellent Very good Good Fair Poor Very poor No opinion
%
Q9. As you may know, as the national broadcaster the mandate of the CBC is to provide radio and television services incorporating a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens and entertains. Overall, how would you rate the performance of the CBC
Current May-09
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Excellent Very good Good Fair Poor Very poor No opinion
%
Q10. As part of that mandate, the CBC is required to provide television and radio content that reflects Canada and its regional to national and regional audiences, and to serve the
special needs of Canada's diverse regions. Overall, how would you rate th
Current May-09
7 | P a g e
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Current May-09
%Q11. How much confidence or trust do you personally have in the CBC to protect Canadian culture and identity on
television? (Scale of 1 to 7 where 7 = Very high trust/confidence)
6 to 7 1 to 2
8 | P a g e
CBC Funding
9 | P a g e
20
38
41
38
23.8
47
23
61
5149
5152.3
31
46
16
8 9 9
14.2
9
17
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1996 1999 Aug-02 May-04 Oct-08 May-09 Current
%Q12. Assume for a moment that your federal Member of Parliament asked for your advice on an upcoming vote in the House of Commons on what to do about CBC funding. Which of the following three options would you advise him/her
to vote for?
Increase funding for the CBC from current levels Maintain funding for the CBC at current levels
Decrease funding for the CBC from current levels
10 | P a g e
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Lower About the same Higher Don’t know
%Q14. What do you think Canada’s level of public broadcaster funding is relative to the level at which other Western
countries fund their public broadcasters? Is it:
Current May-09
11 | P a g e
52
68
21 21
55
70
14
18
3331
38
57
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Current May-09 Current May-09
Strongly/somewhat Agree Strongly/somewhat disagree
%
Q15. Canada ranks 16th out of 18 Western democracies in per capita annual funding of its public broadcaster in a recent survey, at $33 per citizen, compared to an average of $80 per citizen. To what extent do you agree with each of the
folowing statement
Canada’s level of public broadcaster funding is insufficient to maintain a unique and vibrant Canadian identity and culture
Canada’s level of public broadcaster funding is indicative of the federal government’s treatment of the cultural sector overall
$33 per citizen is an appropriate level of funding
12 | P a g e
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
This recommendation should be adopted This recommendation should be rejected as too high This recommendation should be rejected as too low
%Q17.Before the last election, the House of Commons Heritage Committee recommended an increase in annual funding of
the CBC from $33 per citizen to $40 per citizen. Which of the following most closely reflects your view?
Current May-09
13 | P a g e
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Very concerned Somewhat concerned Not concerned at all
%Q18. Other major Canadian broadcasters have recently announced cuts to local broadcasting that, along with cuts
announced at the CBC, will significantly reduce local and regional coverage on television and radio. How concerned are you about the impact of
Current May-09
14 | P a g e
Who’s responsible for protecting Cancon on radio and TV?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Current May-09 Current May-09
Very/somewhat responsible Not very/Not at all responsible
%
Q13. Who is most responsible for ensuring Canadian programming and content on television and radio is protected?
CRTC TV & Radio networks Federal government Cable & satellite cos.
15 | P a g e
Stephen Harper and the CBC
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Current May-09 Current May-09
Stongly/somewhat agree Stongly/somewhat disagree
%
Q16. When he was the Leader of the Opposition, Stephen Harper recommended radical changes to CBC TV and Radio Two: "When you take a look at things like main-English language television and probably to a lesser degree Radio Two,
you could look there (sic)
The Harper government has a hidden agenda that favours private corporate broadcasters
The Harper government is underfunding the CBC so that it can turn it into a private, commercial broadcaster
Privatizing and commercializing the CBC is the right thing to do
16 | P a g e
Appointing the CBC Board
17 | P a g e
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Appointed non-politically Appointd by the PM
Q22. In Canada, the Prime Minister appoints the Board of Directors of the CBC. Do you feel that this is the best way to manage the CBC or should a non-political process appoint the CBC board?
Current May-09
18 | P a g e
Foreign Ownership
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Increase Decrease Remain the same
%
Q19. Currently, the federal government does not allow foreign companies to control Canadian telephone, cable and media companies. If foreign companies gained permission and acquired control of Canadian broadcasting and cable
companies, would you expect Ca
Current Apr-10
19 | P a g e
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Canada's broadcasting and communications companies should be able tosell a majority interest to foreign companies in order to be globally
competitive
Canadian broadcasting and communications are too important forcultural and national security reasons to allow ownership and control by
foreign companies
%Q20. Which of these two views most closely reflects your own opinion?
Current Dec-07