MOSCOW, 27 January 2025. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey among Russians about the perceptions of television.
Hurrah to television!
Eight in ten Russians watch TV programs on TV or on the Internet to a varying degree (82%), which is a maximum over the last two years (2022 — 79%, 2023 — 75%). Apparently, television remains to be a key information channel: 57% watch TV programs on a daily basis (+6 p.p. over a year). The share of the TV audience has increased over a year at the expense of an increased number of active TV viewers, those who spend more than four hours a day in front of the TV screen (from 18 to 26%).
The older the respondents are, the more often they watch TV programs. Sixty-five percent of respondents aged 18-24 and 94% of those aged 60+ watch TV. Remarkably, those aged 60+ spend more time watching TV on a daily basis (84% vs 20% of those aged 18-24).
Half of respondents watch TV alone (49%); another 31% watch TV with their husbands/wives/partners; 15% watch TV with their family, less often with children (10%).
TV in special moments
In case of emergencies many Russians (43%) would turn to TV channels. This is followed by Internet websites and Telegram channels (29% and 28%, respectively). A further 15% point out video hosting platforms; the same share (14%) opts for social media and messengers; 9% choose radio. Survey data grouping shows that 28% of respondents would choose only traditional media; 47% would opt for purely online resources, and 22% would go for various media sources – both traditional and online ones.
Those who choose TV channels in emergencies primarily point out Channel One (54%), followed by Russia-1 (49%). Respondents also often mentioned Russia-24 (29%) and NTV (22%).
The three most popular TV channels Russians turn to to watch broadcasts of great events (Victory Parade, Presidential Address, etc.) are Channel One (50%), Russia-1 (46%) and Russia-24 (28%). Other channels mentioned by respondents are NTV (23%), REN-TV (13%), Zvezda (12%), Pyaty Channel (9%), TNT and STS (6%, each).
On family values
The role of television is not limited to helping people stay informed; it also helps to preserve traditions by acting as a platform for transmitting cultural values and historical memory. The channels Russians point out for this purpose are Channel One (36%), NTV and Russia-1 (25%, each). More than 10% mention Domashniy (15%), Spas (14%), Russia-Culture and Karusel, a channel for children and youth, (13%, each). The latter was often mentioned by those who recently watched this channel - young people aged under 24 (24%).
When asked about the channels that offer programs for different age groups, most of respondents point to STS (23%), followed by Channel One (18%) and Russia-1 (17%). NTV gained 15%; Zvezda and TNT, 14% (each).
All-Russian telephone survey was conducted 26-29 November, 2024. A total of 1,600 respondents aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Survey method: telephone interview, stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. The data were weighted for socio-demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Do you watch TV programs, no matter on TV or on the Internet on any device? If you do, how often? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
More than four hours a day | 23 | 18 | 26 |
Less than four hours a day | 36 | 33 | 31 |
Several times a week | 12 | 15 | 14 |
Several times a month | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Rarely but at least once every six months | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Never | 21 | 25 | 18 |
Do you watch TV programs, no matter on TV or on the Internet on any device? If you do, how often? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
More than four hours a day | 26 | 23 | 29 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 29 | 46 |
Less than four hours a day | 31 | 32 | 30 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 37 | 38 |
Several times a week | 14 | 14 | 15 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 13 | 7 |
Several times a month | 6 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 1 |
Rarely but at least once every six months | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Never | 18 | 18 | 16 | 35 | 36 | 21 | 12 | 6 |
With whom do you usually watch TV programs? (close-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of those who watch TV programs) | ||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Home | 49 | 53 | 46 | 36 | 32 | 35 | 50 | 64 |
Husband/wife/partner | 31 | 31 | 32 | 26 | 26 | 34 | 35 | 30 |
Family | 15 | 16 | 14 | 42 | 22 | 25 | 10 | 6 |
Children | 10 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 5 |
Parents | 5 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
Grandparents | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
It depends | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
Other | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Don’t know | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
What source of information are you more likely to use to get more details about an incident or emergency? (close-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total programs) | |
| Total |
TV channels | 43 |
Web portals, websites | 29 |
TG channels | 28 |
Video hosting platforms | 15 |
Social networks, messengers (except for Telegram channels) | 14 |
Radio stations | 9 |
Friends / acquaintances / relatives | 2 |
Other (1% and less) | 3 |
I don’t need any details | 1 |
Don’t know | 2 |
What source of information are you more likely to use to get more details about an incident or emergency? (close-ended question, up to 3 answers; answers were grouped; % of total respondents) | |
| Total |
Only traditional mass media sources | 28 |
Only Internet sources | 47 |
Different mass media | 22 |
I don’t need any details | 1 |
Don’t know | 2 |
What TV channels are you more likely to turn to? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who turn to television in case of emergency) | |
| Total |
Channel One | 54 |
Russia-1 | 49 |
Russia -24 | 29 |
NTV | 22 |
REN TV | 8 |
Zvezda | 7 |
Pyaty channel | 4 |
Russia 2 | 2 |
Other (1% and less) | 16 |
Don’t know | 5 |
What channel do you prefer to watch the broadcasts of large national events (Victory Parade, Presidential Address, etc.)? (close-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of those who watch TV programs) | |
| Total |
Channel One | 50 |
Russia-1 | 46 |
Russia -24 | 28 |
NTV | 23 |
REN TV | 13 |
Zvezda | 12 |
Pyaty channel | 9 |
TNT | 6 |
STS | 6 |
Russia-Culture | 4 |
Domashniy | 4 |
Public television of Russia (OTR) | 4 |
TV Centre | 3 |
Match TV | 3 |
Pyatnitsa! | 2 |
Karusel | 2 |
Mir | 2 |
Spas | 2 |
I don’t watch broadcasts | 3 |
Other | 6 |
Don’t know | 1 |
In your opinion, which programs of the following TV channels are most likely to transmit and preserve family values? (close-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | ||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Channel One (for example, “Pole chudes”, “Spokoynoy nochi, malyshy!” programs) | 36 | 34 | 38 | 48 | 40 | 39 | 34 | 31 |
NTV (for example, “Zhdi Menya” program) | 25 | 21 | 28 | 20 | 14 | 23 | 26 | 31 |
Russia-1 (for example, “Sto k odnomu” program) | 25 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 19 | 27 | 25 | 26 |
Domashniy (for example, family TV series) | 15 | 11 | 19 | 24 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
Spas (for example, “Moya bolshaya strana” program) | 14 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 16 |
Russia-Culture (for example, “Novosti kultury”, “Bolshie i malenkie” programs) | 13 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 16 |
Karusel (for example, “Tsarevny” programs) | 13 | 10 | 16 | 24 | 15 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
Mir (for example, “Ya – volonter”, “Fazenda” programs) | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
OTR (for example, “Mamy”, “Bolshaya strana” programs) | 6 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
TV Centre (for example, “Nastroenie” program) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
TV-3 (for example, “Khoroshie Novosti with V.Volodina”, “ Dobry Den with Valeriya” programs et cet.) | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
STS (from “Other” code) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Zvezda (from “Other” code) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
None | 4 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
Other | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Don’t know | 16 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 16 |
In your opinion, which TV channels unite generations offering programs for different age groups? (close-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |
| Total |
STS | 23 |
Channel One | 18 |
Russia-1 | 17 |
NTV | 15 |
Zvezda | 14 |
TNT | 14 |
Russia-Culture | 13 |
Pyatnitsa! | 11 |
Karusel | 10 |
REN TV | 10 |
Domashniy | 8 |
Russia-24 | 8 |
Match TV | 7 |
Spas | 6 |
Pyaty Channel | 5 |
Muz-TV | 5 |
MIR | 5 |
TV Centre | 4 |
Public Television of Russia (ORT) | 4 |
TV-3 | 3 |
Other (1% and less) | 7 |
None | 5 |
Don’t know | 12 |