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EPIC-MRA
Survey Results
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5/30/00
1. How often do you or someone else in your household watch
television programs that are broadcast on public television stations in
Michigan, such as those from PBS?
23% Respondent watches every day 26% Respondent watches a few times a week 12% Respondent watches several times a month 4% Respondent watches several times a year 8% Respondent seldom watches 7% Someone else/more than one watches every day 8% Someone else/more than one watches a few times a week 3% Someone else/more than one watches several times a month 2% Someone else/more than one watches several times a year 1% Someone else/more than one seldom watches 5% No one in household watches public television 1% Undecided/don't know
2. How often do you or someone else in your household listen to public
radio programs that are broadcast on public radio stations in Michigan, such as
National Public Radio?
18% Respondent listens every day 13% Respondent listens a few times a week 7% Respondent listens several times a month 3%; Respondent listens several times a year 20% Respondent seldom listens 6% Someone else/more than one listens every day 2% Someone else/more than one listens a few times a week 1% Someone else/more than one listens several times a month 1%; Someone else/more than one listens several times a year 1% Someone else/more than one listens 27% No one in household listens 1% Undecided/don't know
3. Whether you or others in your household watch or listen to public radio
or television or not, how important do you think it is to have public broadcasting
of television and radio programming - very important, somewhat important, only a little
important or not important at all?
4. Public
broadcasting of television and radio programming is financially supported by
voluntary donations from viewers and listeners. Unlike commercial broadcasting,
public TV and radio does not sell advertising to fund their operations or to
purchase programming. Public broadcasting receives only one dollar per person
a year from the federal government, and in Michigan, public broadcasting
receives no direct state funding. Before hearing this description, how aware
were you of how public broadcasting of television and radio programming is
funded?
5. Some
people have said that because of the quality of educational, children's,
governmental and public affairs programming provided by public television and
radio stations, and the difficulty they have raising adequate funding from their
periodic fundraising efforts, that state government should provide direct
financial funding for public broadcasting. Would you favor or oppose a proposal
for state government to provide direct taxpayer funded support for public
broadcasting in Michigan? [IF FAVOR/OPPOSE] Would that be strongly or
somewhat?
6. The
Federal Communications Commission is requiring all television stations
nationwide to begin broadcasting in a digital format beginning in 2003, with
radio stations to follow. TV stations which do not convert to a digital format
will cease to exist. In Michigan, the cost to convert all public TV station and
radio stations is $44 million. A legislative proposal under consideration would
provide state funding of $22 million for some of the cost of the mandatory
conversion to digital. Based on this description and what you may know or have
heard or read about the proposal for state funding assistance, do you favor or
oppose the proposal?[IF FAVOR/OPPOSE] Would that be strongly or somewhat?
7. Many
other state governments have already provided funding assistance for the
mandated conversion to digital for public broadcasting, including Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois and Pennsylvania. With the large budget surplus that Michigan has
because of our strong economy and low unemployment, supporters say this
appropriation for a special need makes sense. Once conversion is complete,
public broadcasting will be able to provide more educational services. Knowing
this, let me ask you again - would you favor or oppose state government
providing $22 million in partial funding for the mandatory digital conversion of
public TV and radio stations in Michigan? [IFFAVOR/OPPOSE] Would that be strongly or
somewhat?
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