Viewers Call For More Documentaries And Films For 1996

CIA MediaLab’s latest Sensor study indicates that Britain’s adults would still like to see more documentaries and films on TV in 1996. When asked which types of programmes they would like to see more of, documentaries (58%) and films (52%) were the top choices.

Older viewers are more keen than average on documentaries; sixty-five per cent of older viewers aged over 45 would like to see more documentaries. Increased local programming (38%) and films (37%) are the next favourite among this group.

Films are popular with all ages, but especially with younger viewers. Eighty-one per cent of 15-to-24 year-olds would like to see more films on TV next year. Younger viewers are also the top voters for sport (39%), soap operas (21%) and cartoons (14%).

The favourite choice for men is documentaries (60%), followed by sport (47%) and films (45%). Women would prefer more films (59%), with documentaries (55%) and plays (33%) their next favourite. Women (17%) are also nearly six times as likely as men (3%) to vote for more soap operas.

Anthony Jones, Head of CIA MediaLab, commented: “Viewers now have a wider channel choice than ever – a choice that is going to grow rapidly via Channel 5 and digital television as well as new cable and satellite channels. However, despite the number of channels now available, viewers still feel that their continued demands for more documentaries and films are not yet being fulfilled.”

The types of programmes viewers would like to see more of in 1996:

CIA Sensor: 0171 633 9999