News and soap operas attract Turks to TV sets
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 24, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - A survey carried out among 2,570 people by the country’s television watchdog reveals that news programs and Turkish soap operas are the main items of attraction for television viewers. The head of the watchdog says channels available via satellite receivers are not good for kids
Turks watch television for the news and the soap operas, according to new research by the Supreme Board of Radio and Television, of RTÜK.
Zahid Akman, President of RTÜK, released the results of "Research for Television Watching Tendencies" at a press conference Friday. The survey had 2,750 respondents in 21 provinces.
Time in front of the television has increased since the last round of surveys in 2006, Akman said.
He said 54 percent of respondents had one television, 36.6 percent had two and 9 percent had three or more television sets in their homes. Research showed 20.5 percent of respondents watch approximately three hours of television and 16.4 percent watch four hours on weekdays.
Akman said the research showed satellite receivers are common in Turkey because terrestrial analog broadcasting is still not widely practiced and although the variety of content of satellite broadcasting pleases viewers, channels that cannot be controlled by the families enter Turkish homes.
Akman said these channels might be harmful for children. "The satellite dishes also do not present a pretty picture of health and beauty for their surroundings. The passing of the draft law of the legislative power will provide considerable effect on the resolution of this problem."
Akman said television is mostly watched from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight, known as "Prime 1" and "Prime 2." Therefore the stations prefer those hours for distribution of the advertising pie but this means more commercial breaks during the times that displease the viewers.
The research showed that the most watched TV channel is Kanal D by 62.1 percent. The channel’s was rated as 48.8 in the 2006 survey. Akman said Kanal D was preferred by 42 percent for Turkish soap operas and 19.4 percent for news, which puts the channel at the top of the ratings of the country on both these accounts.
Quiz show audience prefered Show TV at 67.5 percent, sports shows are mostly watched on TRT, documentaries and religious shows are watched on Samanyolu TV and open forums, celebrity shows, foreign movies and women’s daytime television shows are mostly watched on Kanal D, according to the research.
Akman said the research showed that there was also a sign that audiences were disturbed by the women’s daytime television shows. "So, our people both watch and complain about them."
"There is a serious discomfort and unhappiness" on the matters of the ratings system of measurements when answering a question, Akman said.
The rating system
Akman said RTÜK is in contact with foundations that measure the ratings and the Committee for Television Watching and Research, or TIAK, who has been told of their opinion on the rating measurement devices not being able to reflect the national average. Akman said because this kind of survey also raises arguments, RTÜK has offered to work with the foundations for a better nationwide research system with additional costs covered by RTÜK.
Akman said the offer was rejected and this situation caused "serious mistrust" between the foundations. "Now, what should be done is building trust through cooperation on research that would satisfy the expectations of all the parties."
Akman said the foundations that use the results of the research, especially the television stations, always express discomfort, doubt and unpleasantness. "As inspector of the research, it does not become us to disregard a ratings system for which this much unpleasantness is voiced and to not take precautions. This unpleasantness must be remedied."
Some results from the survey
The channels of TRT are appreciated for their "impartial broadcasts." The soap opera audience prefers Kanal D by 42 percent and Show TV by 26.8 percent.
Those who watch the news follow Kanal D by 19.4 percent, Show TV by 18.7 percent, ATV by 14.1 percent and TRT channels by 13 percent.
On weekends, men watch 4.5 hours of television, women watch 4.6 hours and married couples watch 4.6 hours. Shows unwanted on television are led by women’s daytime television shows and marriage shows by 63 percent. Celebrity shows follow at 50.3 percent and sports shows at 22.7 percent. The results show that 60.3 percent of the audience changes the channel as soon as a commercial break starts.
Respondents said they trusted radio more than television, with 47.1 percent to 42.2 percent.
Zahid Akman, President of RTÜK, released the results of "Research for Television Watching Tendencies" at a press conference Friday. The survey had 2,750 respondents in 21 provinces.
Time in front of the television has increased since the last round of surveys in 2006, Akman said.
He said 54 percent of respondents had one television, 36.6 percent had two and 9 percent had three or more television sets in their homes. Research showed 20.5 percent of respondents watch approximately three hours of television and 16.4 percent watch four hours on weekdays.
Akman said the research showed satellite receivers are common in Turkey because terrestrial analog broadcasting is still not widely practiced and although the variety of content of satellite broadcasting pleases viewers, channels that cannot be controlled by the families enter Turkish homes.
Akman said these channels might be harmful for children. "The satellite dishes also do not present a pretty picture of health and beauty for their surroundings. The passing of the draft law of the legislative power will provide considerable effect on the resolution of this problem."
Akman said television is mostly watched from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight, known as "Prime 1" and "Prime 2." Therefore the stations prefer those hours for distribution of the advertising pie but this means more commercial breaks during the times that displease the viewers.
The research showed that the most watched TV channel is Kanal D by 62.1 percent. The channel’s was rated as 48.8 in the 2006 survey. Akman said Kanal D was preferred by 42 percent for Turkish soap operas and 19.4 percent for news, which puts the channel at the top of the ratings of the country on both these accounts.
Quiz show audience prefered Show TV at 67.5 percent, sports shows are mostly watched on TRT, documentaries and religious shows are watched on Samanyolu TV and open forums, celebrity shows, foreign movies and women’s daytime television shows are mostly watched on Kanal D, according to the research.
Akman said the research showed that there was also a sign that audiences were disturbed by the women’s daytime television shows. "So, our people both watch and complain about them."
"There is a serious discomfort and unhappiness" on the matters of the ratings system of measurements when answering a question, Akman said.
The rating system
Akman said RTÜK is in contact with foundations that measure the ratings and the Committee for Television Watching and Research, or TIAK, who has been told of their opinion on the rating measurement devices not being able to reflect the national average. Akman said because this kind of survey also raises arguments, RTÜK has offered to work with the foundations for a better nationwide research system with additional costs covered by RTÜK.
Akman said the offer was rejected and this situation caused "serious mistrust" between the foundations. "Now, what should be done is building trust through cooperation on research that would satisfy the expectations of all the parties."
Akman said the foundations that use the results of the research, especially the television stations, always express discomfort, doubt and unpleasantness. "As inspector of the research, it does not become us to disregard a ratings system for which this much unpleasantness is voiced and to not take precautions. This unpleasantness must be remedied."
Some results from the survey
The channels of TRT are appreciated for their "impartial broadcasts." The soap opera audience prefers Kanal D by 42 percent and Show TV by 26.8 percent.
Those who watch the news follow Kanal D by 19.4 percent, Show TV by 18.7 percent, ATV by 14.1 percent and TRT channels by 13 percent.
On weekends, men watch 4.5 hours of television, women watch 4.6 hours and married couples watch 4.6 hours. Shows unwanted on television are led by women’s daytime television shows and marriage shows by 63 percent. Celebrity shows follow at 50.3 percent and sports shows at 22.7 percent. The results show that 60.3 percent of the audience changes the channel as soon as a commercial break starts.
Respondents said they trusted radio more than television, with 47.1 percent to 42.2 percent.