Over a quarter of a century, Russian attitudes toward national television have improved. At the same time, the number of claims has also increased.
MOSCOW, January 30, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the evolution of the perceptions of Russians towards television over the recent twenty-five years.
The perceptions of Russians regarding central television have considerably improved over a quarter of a century: whereas in 1989 the share of those who assessed the television positively was 44%, in 2014 this share makes up 62%. Thirty percent of Russians are tolerant (from 45% in 1989). The number of negative evaluations has almost stayed at the same level (9% earlier and 7% today).
The audience`s expectations have generally increased. As before, Russians consider that the main function of the television is to inform the public (72% today, 59% in 1989). Every second respondent thinks that the TV screen should educate and influence public attitudes. Others believe that the most important mission of the television is providing comments and analytical programs (48%), reproducing public opinion (45%). Forty-eight percent of Russians are interested in the entertaining programs; 47% prefer sport news.
Programs devoted to science, technologies and nature is important for 44% of respondents; helpful hints - for 41%; literature and art programs –for 40%. Rarely Russians mention that the television should consolidate people (31%).
The most popular programs are news editions (62%) and cinema (57%) followed by entertainment programs (42%), scientific (40%), social and political (40%) programs, sport (37%) and music programs (36%).
Over the recent twenty-five years the assessment of the impact of the television on the audience has deteriorated. Earlier 73% considered that the television had a good impact on moral portrait of people, today this share is 46%; on the contrary, the number of Russians who think that the television has had a bad impact on the state of morality has increased five-fold (from 8% to 38%).
Seventy-two percent of Russians believe that the television helps broadening the horizons; however, this share is smaller than it was in 1989 (85%). More than half of respondents agree that the television facilitates people`s interactions (59%). One-third of Russians (35%) say that if TV spectators refrain from watching TV for a month, they will benefit from that (18% in 1989), however, 51% believe that it would be a big loss.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on October 18-19, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132 communities in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3,5%.
What is your attitude toward television in general?* (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 1989** | 2014 |
Very good | 6 | 9 |
Good | 38 | 53 |
Average | 45 | 30 |
Bad | 7 | 5 |
Very bad | 2 | 2 |
Don`t know | 3 | 1 |
*In 1989, the question was “What is you attitude toward the Soviet television in general?”
** In 1989, all-Union sample representing urban and rural population aged 16 and over was used in mass survey (n=2503).
In your opinion, what functions of television are the most important? (closed-ended question, any number of answers) | ||
| 1989 ** | 2014 |
Informing people about news, highlights | 59 | 72 |
Educating, shaping the public attitudes and opinions | 28 | 49 |
Entertaining | 38 | 48 |
Commenting on news/events; helping the public better understand what is happening | 34 | 48 |
Covering sport events | 13 | 47 |
Presenting public opinion on different topics | 23 | 45 |
Exploring the unknown fields in science, nature and technologies | 17 | 44 |
Giving advice on different topics to people | 19 | 41 |
Introducing works of literature and art | 14 | 40 |
Facilitate exchange of opinions, consolidation of people | 27 | 31 |
Don`t know | 2 | 3 |
What kind of information provided by the federal television are you most interested in? (closed-ended question, any number of answers) | ||
| 1989 ** | 2014 |
Information | 56 | 62 |
Cinema | 36 | 57 |
Entertainment | 31 | 42 |
Science | 22 | 40 |
Politics and society | 31 | 40 |
Sport | 17 | 37 |
Music | 28 | 36 |
Youth programs | 22 | 22 |
Children`s programs | 7 | 20 |
Literature and theatre | 6 | 19 |
Journalistic | 13 | 19 |
Education | 3 | 17 |
Folklore | 4 | 16 |
Nothing | <1 | 2 |
Don`t know | 5 | 1 |
What statements about television do you most agree with? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 1989 ** | 2014 |
| ||
Television has a good impact on the moral development of people | 73 | 46 |
Television has a bad impact on the moral situation in society | 8 | 38 |
Don`t know | 19 | 16 |
| ||
Television broadens horizons | 85 | 72 |
Television restricts people’s interests | 9 | 20 |
Don`t know | 7 | 8 |
| ||
Television can show the best masterpieces of art and culture | 62 | 50 |
Television delivers low-standard production | 14 | 31 |
Don`t know | 24 | 19 |
| ||
Television facilitates interactions between people | 68 | 59 |
Television decrease interactions between people | 22 | 29 |
Don`t know | 10 | 12 |
| ||
If television stops working for a month, people will lose something very important for them | 67 | 51 |
If television stops working for a month, people will benefit from that | 18 | 35 |
Don`t know | 15 | 14 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!