bbc trust service review: quantitative...

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BBC Trust Service Review:

Quantitative Research BBC Nations’ Radio, News and Current Affairs

February – April 2016

A report by ICM on behalf of the BBC Trust

BBC Trust Nations Survey, 2016 - Report

CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISO 20252 AND ISO 27001 2

Contents

Executive summary ............................................................................................................ 4

1. Background and methodology ................................................................................... 9

1.1 Background .................................................................................................................... 9

1.2 Methodology .................................................................................................................. 9

1.3 Presentation and interpretation of the data .................................................................. 10

2. Scotland...................................................................................................................... 11

2.1 Overall favourability towards the BBC in Scotland ........................................................ 11

2.2 Serving audiences in Scotland ..................................................................................... 11

2.3 Claimed use of news in Scotland ................................................................................. 12

2.4 Claimed consumption of Scottish news and information – unprompted ........................ 13

2.5 Reasons for not using the BBC for Scottish news ........................................................ 14

2.6 BBC Radio Scotland .................................................................................................... 15

2.6.1 BBC Radio Scotland: News .......................................................................................... 17

2.6.2 BBC Radio Scotland: Politics and Sport ..................................................................... 18

2.6.3 BBC Radio Scotland: Music and Arts .......................................................................... 19

2.6.4 BBC Radio Scotland: representation .......................................................................... 20

2.6.5 Listener participation on BBC Radio Scotland ........................................................... 21

2.6.6 BBC Radio Scotland’s website ..................................................................................... 21

2.7 BBC Scotland Television News and Current Affairs ..................................................... 22

2.7.1 BBC Scotland TV News ................................................................................................ 23

2.7.2 BBC Scotland’s TV current affairs/political programmes ......................................... 26

2.8 BBC Scotland News Online ......................................................................................... 28

2.9 Gaelic language services ............................................................................................. 30

3. Wales .......................................................................................................................... 31

3.1 Overall favourability towards the BBC in Wales............................................................ 31

3.2 Serving audiences in Wales ......................................................................................... 31

3.3 Claimed use of news in Wales ..................................................................................... 32

3.4 Types of Welsh news and information consumed – unprompted .................................. 34

3.5 Reasons for not using the BBC for news about Wales ................................................. 35

3.6 BBC Radio Wales ........................................................................................................ 35

3.6.1 BBC Radio Wales: News .............................................................................................. 37



3.6.2 BBC Radio Wales: Politics and Sport ......................................................................... 38

3.6.3 BBC Radio Wales: Cultural broadcasting ................................................................... 39

3.6.4 BBC Radio Wales: Representation ............................................................................. 39

3.6.5 Listener participation on BBC Radio Wales ............................................................... 40

3.6.6 BBC Radio Wales’ website ........................................................................................... 41

3.7 BBC Radio Cymru ........................................................................................................ 42

3.8 BBC Wales Television News and Current Affairs ......................................................... 42

3.8.1 BBC Wales TV news...................................................................................................... 43

3.8.2 BBC Wales TV Current Affairs/Political programmes ............................................... 46

3.9 BBC Wales News Online ............................................................................................. 48

4. Northern Ireland ......................................................................................................... 51

4.1 Overall favourability towards the BBC in Northern Ireland ............................................ 51

4.2 Serving audiences in Northern Ireland ......................................................................... 51

4.3 Claimed use of news in Northern Ireland...................................................................... 52

4.4 Types of Northern Irish news and information consumed – unprompted ...................... 53

4.5 Reasons for not using the BBC for Northern Ireland news ........................................... 54

4.6 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle ............................................................................................... 54

4.6.1 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle: news ..................................................................................... 56

4.6.2 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle: politics and sport ................................................................ 56

4.6.3 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle: cultural broadcasting ......................................................... 57

4.6.4 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle: Representation ................................................................... 57

4.6.5 Listener participation on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle ..................................................... 58

4.6.6 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle’s website ............................................................................... 59

4.7 BBC Northern Ireland Television News and Current Affairs ......................................... 59

4.7.1 BBC Northern Ireland television News ........................................................................ 60

4.7.2 BBC Northern Ireland Television Current Affairs ....................................................... 62

4.8 BBC Northern Ireland News Online .............................................................................. 64

5. Appendices ................................................................................................................ 68

Appendix 1: Guide to Statistical Reliability .......................................................................... 68

Appendix 2: Definition of BAME .......................................................................................... 69

Appendix 3: Sample Profile ................................................................................................. 70

Appendix 4: Marked-up questionnaire ................................................................................. 72

Appendix 6: Differences in claimed radio listening by age ................................................. 118



Executive summary

Overall Themes

In all nations, the majority of respondents believe the BBC serves audiences well in their

respective areas.

o 62% of respondents in Scotland believe the BBC serves audiences in Scotland

well

o 72% of respondents in Wales believe the BBC serves audiences in Wales well

o 76% of respondents in Northern Ireland believe the BBC serves audiences in

Northern Ireland well.

Despite many respondents across all nations holding BBC outputs and the BBC in high

regard, there are a number of areas where the BBC does not meet audience

expectations with its television output.

The provision of high quality, independent news often has the largest gap between

perceived importance and perceived BBC performance among BBC television news

viewers. The biggest gap is among television viewers in Scotland (-15), while Northern

Ireland has a smaller gap of -12 and Wales has a slightly smaller gap of -11.

The BBC in all nations fully meets television news viewer expectations with online

content and social media. This is partly because viewers and listeners do not put as

much importance on these features: only two in five (43%) of viewers in Northern Ireland

believe this is important, while just one in three of Welsh (33%) and Scottish (32%)

viewers believe providing additional content on social media is important.

BBC nations radio in each nation have very high scores for key measures including

being high quality, entertaining and distinctive.

Online output is viewed positively across nations. Those in Scotland give an average

score of 7.4 out of 10 for BBC Online news services, while those in Northern Ireland give

an average of 7.7 and those in Wales give a similar score of 7.8.

Generally, throughout this research respondents to the survey in Scotland have been

more negative than those in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Scotland

Overall favourability

Half of those surveyed in Scotland (50%) have a favourable overall impression of the

BBC, with 14% scoring it ten out of ten. Over one in ten people (13%) have an

unfavourable impression of the BBC overall.

More than six in ten (62%) think the BBC serves audiences in Scotland well; fewer than

two in ten (17%) disagree.



Over half (52%) have a favourable view of BBC Radio Scotland. Four in ten (41%) have

a neutral view and 5% view it unfavourably.

More than six in ten (64%) have a positive overall impression of BBC Scotland television

news, whereas around three in ten (33%) are neutral and 3% have an unfavourable

view.

Half of those surveyed in Scotland (49%) have a positive impression of the BBC’s

current affairs and political programming on TV. A further four in ten have a neutral view

(40%), and one in ten view it unfavourably (10%).

Performance measures

BBC Radio Scotland: a majority of respondents agree that BBC Radio Scotland is

informative (80%), provides high quality programming (70%), is distinctive compared with

other radio stations (61%) and has programmes that are entertaining (60%).

It very nearly meets audience expectations in the areas of introducing listeners to new

presenters, performers and artists from Scotland (-2) and supporting arts and culture in

Scotland (+1). Listeners’ expectations are least well met in the area of reflecting

listeners’ local interests and concerns (-23).

BBC Scotland TV News: a majority of people agree that BBC Scotland TV news is

informative (81%), relevant to them (71%), high quality (69%) and engaging (64%).

However, only four in ten (40%) feel that it is different from what is offered by other

providers.

It meets audience expectations for providing additional content on social media (+5). The

gap between expectations and perceived performance is larger in the areas of providing

accurate and up-to-date news (-12) and giving viewers a better understanding of news

and topical issues in Scotland (-12). The largest performance gap is in relation to

providing high quality independent news (-15).

BBC Scotland TV Current Affairs: a majority of people agree that BBC Scotland TV

current affairs programming is informative (78%), high quality (72%), relevant (70%) and

engaging (68%).

It nearly meets audience expectations in the areas of covering a wide range of topics

and subject matter (-1) and providing political analysis (-6). The largest performance gap

is for holding decision makers in Scotland to account (-21).

BBC Scotland news online: 82% agree it is informative, 74% feel it is relevant to them,

70% say it is high quality, and 62% feel it provides the right amount of news for their

area.

The smallest performance gaps for this service relate to providing clear links to other

local media and information providers (-7) and sourcing or sharing content with other

such providers (-11). The largest gap between perceived importance and performance is

in relation to providing high quality independent news (-22).



Wales


Just under six in ten of those surveyed in Wales (58%) have a favourable overall

impression of the BBC, with 14% scoring it ten out of ten. Fewer than one in ten people

(6%) have an unfavourable impression of the BBC overall.

More than seven in ten (72%) think the BBC serves audiences in Wales well, fewer than

one in ten (7%) disagree.

Over six in ten (63%) have a favourable view of BBC Radio Wales. Fewer than four in

ten (36%) have a neutral view and less than 1% view it unfavourably.

Six in ten (59%) have a favourable impression of BBC Radio Cymru. More than one

third of listeners (37%) have a neutral view and just 2% have a negative overall

impression.

More than six in ten (64%) have a positive overall impression of BBC Wales television

news, whereas around three in ten (34%) are neutral and 2% have an unfavourable

view.

Over six in ten of those surveyed in Wales (61%) have a positive impression of the

BBC’s current affairs and political programming on TV. A further three in ten have a

neutral view (35%), and just 2% view it unfavourably.


BBC Radio Wales: a majority of respondents agree that BBC Radio Wales is

informative (88%), provides high quality programming (84%), has programmes that are

entertaining (83%), and is distinctive compared with other radio stations (73%).

BBC Radio Wales meets audience expectations for providing high quality news and

highlighting important social issues to listeners. The largest gap between perceived

importance and performance is in relation to portraying listeners’ particular cultures or

communities to other people in Wales (-11).

BBC Wales TV News: a majority of respondents agree that BBC Wales TV news is

informative (82%), high quality (75%), relevant (72%), engaging (68%), and different

from what is offered by other providers (51%).

BBC Wales TV news mostly meets audience expectations for representing Wales (-4)

and providing additional content on social media (+5). The largest performance gap is in

relation to providing high quality independent news (-11).

BBC Wales TV Current Affairs: a majority of respondents agree that BBC Wales TV

Current affairs programming is informative (88%), high quality (82%), relevant (75%) and

engaging (75%).

BBC Wales TV current affairs programming mostly meets audience expectations for

covering the important political stories in Wales (-5) and providing political analysis (-8).

The largest performance gap is for holding decision makers in Wales to account (-23).



BBC Wales news online: BBC Wales news online is widely seen to be meeting its key

performance measures; 91% agree it is informative, 83% feel it is relevant to them, 81%

say it is high quality, and 71% feel it provides the right amount of news for their area.

The smallest performance gaps for this service relate to providing users with up-to-date

news about Wales (-1) and providing clear links to other local media and information

providers (-3). The largest performance gap is in relation to providing high quality

independent news (-8).

Northern Ireland


Fewer than six in ten of those surveyed in Northern Ireland (56%) have a favourable

overall impression of the BBC, with 15% scoring it ten out of ten. Fewer than one in ten

people (8%) have an unfavourable impression of the BBC overall.

More than seven in ten (76%) think the BBC serves audiences in Northern Ireland well,

just over one in ten (11%) disagree.

Fewer than six in ten (57%) have a favourable view of BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle. Four in

ten (40%) have a neutral view and 3% view it unfavourably.

More than six in ten (66%) have a positive overall impression of BBC Northern Ireland’s

television news, around three in ten (29%) are neutral and 3% have an unfavourable

view.

Six in ten of those surveyed in Northern Ireland (60%) have a positive impression of the

BBC’s current affairs and political programming on TV. Fewer than four in ten have a

neutral view (36%), and 4% view it unfavourably.


BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle: a majority of respondents agree that BBC Ulster/Foyle is

informative (87%), provides high quality programming (76%), is distinctive compared with

other radio stations (75%), and has programmes that are entertaining (73%).

BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle meets audience expectations in the areas of reflecting the

diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Northern Ireland, and helping listeners

understand politics in Northern Ireland. The largest gap between audience expectations

and perceived performance is for reflecting the local interests and concerns of listeners (-

17).

BBC Northern Ireland TV News: a majority of respondents agree that BBC Northern

Ireland TV news is informative (85%), relevant (76%), high quality (75%), and engaging

(64%). However, fewer than half (49%) agree that it is different from other providers.

BBC Northern Ireland TV news mostly meets audience expectations for giving viewers a

better understanding of news and topical issues in Northern Ireland (-7), relating national

and international news to viewers’ regions (-7), and providing additional content on social

media (+7). The largest performance gap is in relation to providing high quality




BBC Northern Ireland TV Current Affairs: a majority of respondents agree that BBC

Northern Ireland TV Current affairs programming is informative (84%), high quality

(79%), relevant (78%) and engaging (76%).

BBC Northern Ireland TV Current affairs programming meets audience expectations for

providing political analysis (no gap) and covering the important political stories in

Northern Ireland (+1). The largest gap between perceived importance and performance

is for holding decision makers in Northern Ireland to account (-19).

BBC Northern Ireland news online: BBC Northern Ireland news online is widely seen

to be informative (85%), relevant (77%), high quality (77%), and provides the right

amount of news for their area (72%).

This service meets audience expectations in providing clear links to other local media

and information providers (-4) and providing users with up-to-date news about Northern

Ireland (-5). The largest performance gap is in relation to providing high quality




1. Background and methodology

1.1 Background

The BBC Trust is the governing body of the BBC. The BBC Trust works on behalf of licence

fee payers to ensure that the BBC provides high quality services and good value for

everyone in the UK.

The BBC Trust commissioned ICM Unlimited to undertake a quantitative survey of users of

BBC local radio, BBC regional television news services, BBC regional current affairs

programming, and BBC local news online.

1.2 Methodology

Three separate surveys were conducted, one for each nation, among nationally

representative samples of those aged 16 or over. Demographic quotas were set to ensure a

representative sample of the adult population in each nation.

Data for all surveys were weighted by age, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic grade to

reflect the national demographic distribution in each nation.

Scotland

All 502 interviews in Scotland were conducted online using the BBC Trust Online Research

Panel, topped up with sample from ICM’s own newvista panel. Fieldwork was conducted

between 11th and 24th February 2016.

Wales

In Wales, surveys were conducted both online and using CATI (Computer Assisted

Telephone Interviewing).

400 interviews were conducted online among a nationally representative sample of the

16+ population of Wales.

Interviews were conducted using the BBC Trust online research panel, topped up with

sample from ICM’s own newvista panel.

100 interviews were conducted using CATI with Welsh speakers. No quotas were set for

CATI interviews, although data were weighted to the demographic distribution in Wales.

Fieldwork was conducted between 11th February and 1st March 2016.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, the majority of interviewing was conducted online, with some interviews

also conducted by CATI.

424 interviews were conducted online using the BBC Trust online research panel, topped

up with sample from ICM’s own newvista panel and third party panel sources.

90 interviews were conducted via CATI to nationally representative quotas. No other

requirements were set.

Fieldwork was conducted between 11th February and 1st March 2016.



1.3 Presentation and interpretation of the data

Where percentages do not add up to 100, this may be due to rounding, the exclusion of

“don’t know” categories, or multiple answers. Throughout the report an asterisk (*) denotes

any value of less than half of one per cent but greater than zero. In the report, reference is

made to “net” figures. This represents the balance of opinion on attitudinal questions and

provides a particularly useful means of comparing the results for a number of variables.

Respondents were asked to rate the services against a number of statements. They were

asked to rate the extent to which they agreed that the service was achieving each measure

or feature, giving a ‘performance score’. Respondents were then asked to rate the extent to

which they agreed it was important for the service to provide, giving an ‘importance score’.

The percentage of importance for each measure is then subtracted from the performance

percentage to give a ‘performance gap’ showing the difference between how services are

performing and the importance that these measures have for respondents.

All research is carried out in compliance with ISO 20252 and ISO 27001.

© ICM Unlimited / 213941 August 2016

Report prepared by:

Gregor Jackson ([email protected]) Natalie Compas ([email protected])

Erica Harrison ([email protected])

020 7845 8300

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2. Scotland

2.1 Overall favourability towards the BBC in Scotland

Half of people interviewed in Scotland (50%) say they hold a favourable overall impression

of the BBC, with 14% giving it a score of 10/10. Just over one third (36%) say they feel

neutral towards the BBC and over one in ten (13%) say they have a negative impression of

the BBC. These levels of favourability towards the BBC in Scotland are lower than those

recorded in both Wales and Northern Ireland.

Q4. Thinking about the BBC generally, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10?

Those aged 65 and over are most likely to hold a positive impression of the BBC, with 62%

expressing favourable views. Those aged 16-24 and 55-64 are also broadly positive, with

52% and 51% respectively. The most unfavourable views are held by those aged 35-44

(22% unfavourable).

2.2 Serving audiences in Scotland

The majority of people surveyed in Scotland feel that the BBC serves Scottish audiences

well. Six in ten people (62%) agree the BBC does this, with around two in ten (18%) saying it

serves them ‘very well’. A similar proportion (18%) are neutral and slightly fewer (17%) feel

the BBC does not serve audiences in Scotland well.

Confidential: For research purposes only 4

6% 2%5% 5% 7% 8% 16% 23% 13% 14%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Scotland overall impression Q4

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

13%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

50%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

36%

Mean:

6.9

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Base: All respondents in Scotland (502)




Q5. How well does the BBC as a whole serve audiences specifically in Scotland?

As with overall favourability, those aged 65+ and those aged 16-24 are most likely to feel

that the BBC serves audiences in Scotland well (both 66%). Women are also more likely to

agree than men (65% versus 59%). Those who have a favourable impression of the BBC

overall are significantly more likely to feel it serves Scotland well than those who hold an

unfavourable overall impression (87% vs.11%).

2.3 Claimed use of news in Scotland

Television is the most common medium used to get news and information for Scotland, with

nine in ten people (89%) claiming they watch it. Around six in ten say they use internet sites,

apps or blogs (59%) or local newspapers (57%), and half (50%) claim to listen to their local

radio stations. Over four in ten (44%) say they use social media for this purpose.

Q1. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use to access news and information for

Scotland?


How well BBC serves Scotland Q5.How well does the BBC as a whole serve audiences specifically in Scotland?

18%

44%

18%

11%

7%

BBC in Scotland

Very well Quite well Neither well nor not well Not very well Not well at all


TOTAL:

Well 62%

TOTAL:

Not well 18%


Accessing Scottish newsQ1. Which, if any, of the following ways do you access news and information for Scotland?


89%

59%

57%

50%

44%

2%

TV (e.g. local or regional news bulletins on BBC One or ITV)

Internet sites, apps or blogs (not inc. social media)

Local newspapers

Local radio stations (e.g. BBC, commercial or community radio)

Social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)

Other sources of local news



There is a distinct variation in claimed use by age. Seven in ten people aged 65 and over

(70%) claim to get information from local newspapers, compared with fewer than four in ten

(38%) of those aged 16-24. Conversely, 16-24s are more likely than any other group to say

they find information on social media (82%) or on internet sites, apps or blogs (78%).

A majority of respondents also claim to use the BBC to access UK and Scottish news and

current affairs. BBC Scotland TV news is by far the most popular medium, watched by more

than eight in ten (82%) people, and this is followed by BBC Scotland news online, which has

claimed use of fewer than four in ten (37%) people.

Q2. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use the BBC for UK and Scottish news and

current affairs?

More than a quarter of respondents also claim to listen to BBC Radio Scotland (28%) and

claim to watch Scottish current affairs/political programmes on TV (26%). BBC social media

has claimed use of just under a quarter (23%) and 17% claim to use the BBC Scotland

pages on the BBC News app. 6% of those surveyed claim to use Gaelic-language services,

while 8% claim that they do not use any of the BBC services mentioned.

Online BBC sources are more popular with younger users. More than half of 16-24 year olds

(53%) claim to use BBC social media for news about Scotland, and more than four in ten

(44%) use BBC Scotland news online. Older people are much more likely to watch BBC

Scotland TV news, with more than nine in ten (93%) of those aged 65 and over saying they

tune in.

2.4 Claimed consumption of Scottish news and information –

unprompted

When asked unprompted what types of Scottish or national news they consume in a typical

weekday, people mention a variety of different sources.1 For some, consumption of news is

1 For this reason, we have not coded the responses.


Using the BBC for Scottish newsQ2. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use the BBC for UK and Scottish news and current affairs?


82%

37%

28%

26%

23%

17%

6%

5%

2%

3%

8%

BBC Scotland TV news (e.g. regional news bulletins on BBC One)

BBC Scotland news online

BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland current affairs/political programmes on TV

Social media (e.g. your BBC Scotland or BBC Radio Scotland on…

BBC Scotland pages on the BBC News App

NET: Gaelic services

BBC Alba Programming

BBC Radio nan Gaidheal

Other

None of the above



built in to their daily routine as they have the radio on either at home in the morning, or in the

car while travelling to work.

‘During the week I usually listen to Radio Scotland news on the car radio during morning and evening

commutes. During the day I refer to the full BBC News website on the office PC and the mobile site

on my smartphone…At weekends I tend to watch ITV and Channel 4 news only as my news source.’

(Male, 45-54)

‘Mon-Fri Radio Scotland in the morning, Reporting Scotland at 6:30 Weekends, sometimes a bit of

Radio Scotland’

(Male, 45-54)

Some people say they consume less news of all kinds at the weekends and others say they

are interested in different kinds of news at this time, often mentioning sport.

'I watch BBC news Scotland on TV and access www.eveningexpress.co.uk for my local Aberdeen

news. At the weekend I do not tend to do either of these.’

(Female, 16-24)

'Newspapers Metro and Daily Record Mon-Friday. Watch BBC News, including Scottish News,

sometimes will read BBC News, Scotland on internet. On Saturdays will follow Scottish Football via

BBC app.’

(Male, 45-54)

'I have a look at the Scotsman website. I go onto the BBC website and go to Scottish news. I

occasionally read the Edinburgh Evening News. I listen to Radio Scotland occasionally at weekends

for the sport.’

(Female, 45-54)

However, a significant number of people say their news consumption habits do not change

at weekends but remain the same throughout the week.

'Radio Scotland and BBC Scotland seven days a week.’

(Male, 65+)

'I read BBC World News, BBC UK News, BBC Scotland News online every morning. I also check two

of the regions included under the Scotland heading. No difference at weekends.’

(Female, 65+)

'Mostly internet app, TV and social media. This does not change at weekends.’

(Male, 25-34)

2.5 Reasons for not using the BBC for Scottish news

A small minority of respondents claim that they do not use any BBC services for Scottish

news and they give three main reasons for this. Some people say they are simply not that

interested in specifically Scottish news, preferring programmes with a UK-wide or

international outlook.



'I don't have a very great interest in Scottish news and current affairs.’

(Male, 45-54)

'I'm not that interested. Tend to take a more global view.’

(Male, 35-44)

Others express a preference for other news services and this is generally because they are

perceived to focus more closely on local events and information.

'[I] prefer STV as you can get local news and weather.’

(Female, 55-64)

'[I] find more detail available from other channels and prefer the format they use.’

(Male, 45-54)

Among this small minority, the most commonly cited reason for not using BBC services in

Scotland is a general dislike of the corporation overall, reflected in the fact that the average

overall impression score among this group is 3 out of 10. Several people make reference to

a lack of trust in the BBC, and/or its lack of relevance to Scotland.

‘It’s not trustworthy.’

(Female, 16-24)

‘A lot of the news is for England and I don’t believe what is said.’

(Female, 35-44)

‘I distrust the BBC because they favour English current affairs and are out of touch in Scotland.’

(Female, 25-34)

2.6 BBC Radio Scotland

Listeners to BBC Radio Scotland are generally positive about the service, with more than

half (52%) expressing a favourable overall opinion and just one in twenty (5%) saying they

have a negative impression. Four in ten (41%) say they feel neutral about BBC Radio

Scotland.



Q7. Thinking about BBC Radio Scotland, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10?

Listeners were asked what kind of programming they listen to on BBC Radio Scotland. The

most common responses were breakfast news (61%), sports coverage (53%) and regular

news bulletins throughout the day (51%).

Q8. Please select all the kinds of programming that you listen to on BBC Radio Scotland

Just under four in ten say they listen to music programmes (38%), three in ten claim to listen

to daytime talk and discussion programmes (30%), two in ten listen to documentaries (22%)

with fewer saying they listen to drama, arts and culture, and comedy programming (all 15%).

Generally, listeners are positive about the programming on BBC Radio Scotland and agree

that the station is informative and distinctive, providing high quality and entertaining

programmes.


3% 5% 8% 10% 18% 27% 14% 12%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Radio Scotland overall impression Q7

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

5%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

52%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

41%

Mean:

7.2

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Base: All who listen to BBC Radio Scotland (142)

Q7. Thinking about BBC Radio Scotland, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10?


Programming on BBC Radio ScotlandQ8. Please select all of the kinds of programming that you listen to on BBC Radio Scotland


61%

53%

51%

38%

30%

22%

15%

15%

15%

4%

Breakfast news

Sports coverage

News bulletins throughout the day

Music programmes

Daytime talk and discussion programmes

Documentaries

Drama

Arts and culture

Comedy

Other



Q9. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Radio

Scotland…

Eight in ten listeners (80%) agree that BBC Radio Scotland is informative and seven in ten

(70%) feel that it provides high quality programming. Six in ten agree that it is distinctive

compared with other radio stations (61%) and that it has programmes that are entertaining

(60%).

There is some slight variation in radio listening across different age groups. Although base

sizes are small, a general trend can be observed; in Scotland, those aged 35-54 frequently

express the most positive views and highest levels of favourability, whereas those aged 55

and over are generally less satisfied and give the lowest scores. More detail can be found in

Appendix 6.

2.6.1 BBC Radio Scotland: News

Listeners to BBC Radio Scotland are generally positive about its news provision, with almost

three quarters (74%) agreeing that it provides high quality news. Seven in ten (70%) also

agree that it gives them a better understanding of news and topical issues in Scotland.


BBC Radio ScotlandQ9. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Radio Scotland…

30

21

18

18

50

49

43

42

12

22

28

30

2

5

8

6

5

4

3

2

1

1

…is informative

…provides high quality programming

…is distinctive compared with other radio stations

…has programmes that are entertaining

% Definitely agree % Tend to agree % Neither/nor % Tend to disagree % Definitely disagree % Don't know


Agree

80%

70%

61%

60%



Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Radio Scotland… – Performance Q10b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Radio Scotland…? - Importance

Just under six in ten agree that BBC Radio Scotland news gives them a better

understanding of news and topical issues in the UK (59%), that it has the right balance of

serious and lighter news stories (58%), and that it helps them to understand what’s going on

in the wider world, such as international news and events (57%).

Listeners were also asked how important they perceived each of these measures to be and

the ‘performance gaps’ (the difference between perceived performance and perceived

importance) are also shown on the chart above. The smallest gap was recorded for the most

important measure, the provision of high quality news (-11). The largest gap on any of the

news measures was for giving listeners a better understanding of news and topical issues in

the UK as a whole (-16), suggesting a potential area for improvement.

2.6.2 BBC Radio Scotland: Politics and Sport

BBC Radio Scotland is generally seen to be performing well across a variety of performance

measures including politics, sport and culture. More than six in ten (64%) agree that it helps

them to understand politics in Scotland and over half (52%) agree that it helps to understand

UK-wide politics, but the larger performance gap for this second measure (-15 compared

with -11) suggests more could be done.


74%

85%

70%

82%

59%

75%

58%

70%

57%

69%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Scotland: News


-12

Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance

Q10b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that? - Importance

…gives me a better understanding

of news and topical issues in

Scotland


of news and topical issues in the

UK

…provides high quality news

-12

-11

-16

-12

…has the right balance of serious

and lighter news stories

…helps me to understand what’s

going on in the wider world, such

as international news and events

Gap




In terms of sports coverage, BBC Radio Scotland has a positive performance gap – six in

ten (60%) feel it is important that the station provides coverage of a variety of sport and 66%

agree that this is something it does.

2.6.3 BBC Radio Scotland: Music and Arts

BBC Radio Scotland is seen by listeners to perform strongly when it comes to music and

arts, as shown by the small performance gaps in this area. Six in ten listeners agree that the

station supports Scottish music (60%) and the arts and culture in Scotland more generally

(58%). Half of all listeners (50%) agree that BBC Radio Scotland introduces them to new

presenters, performers and artists from Scotland. The performance gaps on these measures

are the smallest recorded for the station, ranging from -3 to +1.



64%

75%

52%

67%

66%

60%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Scotland: Politics & SportQ10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance


…helps me understand UK-wide

politics

…provides coverage of a variety of

sport

…helps me understand politics in

Scotland-11

+6

-15

Gap


Sport


60%

63%

58%

57%

50%

52%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Scotland: CultureQ10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance


... supports arts and culture

in Scotland

...introduces me to new

presenters, performers and

artists from Scotland

...supports Scottish music

-2

-3

+1

Gap




2.6.4 BBC Radio Scotland: representation

Performance gaps vary on measures relating to the representation of Scotland and Scottish

issues on the station. While the station is good at exposing listeners to a range of voices

from around Scotland (gap of +7), it is not yet meeting expectations on the provision of

content and programming that caters for the population of Scotland (-13) or highlighting

important social issues (-14).


The largest performance gap for BBC Radio Scotland relates to reflecting listeners’ local

interests and concerns. While over seven in ten (72%) consider this to be important, less

than half (49%) agrees the station is currently achieving this, resulting in a performance gap

of -23. There is a smaller performance gap for measures relating to reflecting the diverse

faiths, cultures and communities of Scotland, and portraying listeners’ particular cultures or

communities to other people in Scotland (both -9), although the perceived importance of

both of these is also among the lowest across all measures.


73%

66%

65%

78%

58%

72%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Scotland: Representation (1 of 2)Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance


…provides content and

programming that caters for the

population of Scotland

…highlights to me important

social issues

When listening to BBC Radio

Scotland, I hear a range of

voices from around Scotland

-14

+7

-13

Gap





2.6.5 Listener participation on BBC Radio Scotland

Listeners were also asked about the amount of listener participation on BBC Radio Scotland:

seven in ten (70%) agreed that the current level was just right, while one in ten (10%)

wanted more and slightly fewer (9%) felt the current level was already too high.

Q11a. Would you say that there is too much, just the right amount, or not enough listener

participation on BBC Radio Scotland?

2.6.6 BBC Radio Scotland’s website

A majority of BBC Radio Scotland listeners (57%) claim to use the station’s website to listen

live, catch up on shows and access clips and podcasts. Fewer than three in ten (29%) have

a favourable impression of the site, a further quarter (26%) are neutral, and only 2% have an

unfavourable impression.


49%

72%

48%

57%

41%

50%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance



…reflects the diverse faiths,

cultures and communities of

Scotland

…is good at portraying my

particular culture or community

to other people in Scotland

…reflects my local interests and

concerns

-9

-23

-9

Gap


BBC Radio Scotland: Representation (2 of 2)


Listener participation on BBC Radio ScotlandQ11a. Would you say that there is too much, just the right amount, or not enough listener participation on BBC

Radio Scotland?


11%

10%

70%

9%

Listener participation

Too much

Just enough

Not enough

Don't know



Q12. Thinking about BBC Radio Scotland’s website, what is your overall impression?

2.7 BBC Scotland Television News and Current Affairs

The most commonly viewed programme is Reporting Scotland, with claimed viewing by

more than eight in ten (84%), followed by UK-wide news programmes such as BBC News at

Six, with claimed viewing by half (51%).

Q13. Which, if any, of BBC Scotland’s TV news or current affairs/political programmes do you

tend to watch?

Just under half of people who claim to watch news programmes on BBC Scotland also

watch the BBC News Channel (48%) and 19% watch Politics Scotland/Sunday Politics

Scotland. Fifteen per cent say they listen to BBC breakfast shows on network radio (such as

Radio 4’s Today programme), 14% watch Scotland 2016, and 10% watch BBC Scotland

Investigates.

Older people have much higher claimed use of news and current affairs programming. Over

six in ten (64%) of over 65s say they watch the BBC News Channel, compared with four in

ten (43%) of 16-64 year olds. Almost seven in ten (69%) in this older age group watch UK-


BBC Radio Scotland’s websiteQ12. Thinking about BBC Radio Scotland’s website, what is your overall impression?


4%

40%

29%

26%

2%

BBC Radio Scotland's Website

Unfavourable (1-3)

Neutral (4-7)

Favourable (8-10)

Do not use the BBC Radio Scotlandwebsite

Didn't know BBC Radio Scotlandhad a website

57% using

the website


Using BBC Scotland TV News/Current AffairsQ13. Which, if any, of BBC Scotland’s TV news or current affairs/political programmes do you tend to watch?

Base: All who use BBC Scotland television news or current affairs (416)

84%

51%

48%

19%

15%

14%

10%

5%

2%

Reporting Scotland

UK-wide news, e.g. BBC News at Six, BBC News at Ten

BBC News Channel

Politics Scotland/Sunday Politics Scotland

BBC Breakfast on Network Radio e.g. Radio 's Today Programmeor Radio 5 Live

Scotland 2016

BBC Scotland Investigates

Don't watch BBC Scotland's news or current affairs programmes

Other



wide news programmes like BBC News at Six; compared with fewer than five in ten (45%)

16-64-year-olds.

BBC television news in Scotland is seen as offering high quality news and effectively

balancing Scottish, UK and international news stories.

Q14. The BBC’s television news for Scotland is provided on BBC1 alongside news for the

whole UK (at 1pm, 6pm, 10pm). To what extent do you agree that these programmes taken

together serve you with…

Around eight in ten people agree that BBC UK-wide news and news for Scotland broadcast

together at 1pm, 6pm and 10pm provide them with high quality news and trustworthy daily

news (81%), a good balance of UK, international and Scottish news (80%), and a mix of UK,

international and Scottish news that feels relevant to them (79%).

The BBC News Channel and BBC breakfast shows on network radio are also seen to

achieve this balance of Scottish, UK and international news by three quarters (75%) of

viewers.

2.7.1 BBC Scotland TV News

Most people who watch BBC Scotland’s TV news at 1pm, 6pm and 10pm have a favourable

overall impression of it.


36

32

31

22

45

48

47

53

12

8

13

13

5

10

8

9

1

1

1

22

High quality and trustworthy dailynews?

A good balance of UK,international and Scottish news?

A mix of UK, international andScottish news that feels relevant

to me?

…provides you with a good balance of UK, international and

Scottish news?


Base Q14: All who watch UK-wide news (217)

Base Q14x: All who use BBC News Channel/BBC Breakfast on network radio (219)

Agree

81%

79%

80%

Q14. The BBC’s television news for Scotland is provided on BBC1 alongside news for the whole UK (at 1pm,

6pm, 10pm). To what extent do you agree that these programmes taken together serve you with…

75%

Q14x. To what extent do you agree that BBC News Channel/BBC Breakfast on Network Radio…



Q15. Thinking about BBC Scotland’s TV news, within the UK wide broadcasts, what is your

overall impression?

More than six in ten (64%) are favourable towards BBC Scotland TV news, one third (33%)

feels neutral on the matter and just 3% of people have an unfavourable impression of the

service.

The majority of viewers also feel that BBC Scotland TV news is informative, high quality and

relevant.

Q17. BBC Scotland’s television news programmes are…

Eight in ten people (81%) find BBC Scotland TV news informative, seven in ten (71%) say it

feels relevant and is high quality (69%) and over six in ten (64%) agree it is engaging. Four

in ten (40%) agree that it offers something different to other providers, but a similar number

(41%) say they neither agree nor disagree with this statement, suggesting there is room for

this service to make itself more distinctive.

BBC Scotland’s TV news scores fairly highly across its main performance measures. Three

quarters of people (76%) agree that it provides accurate and up-to-date news and seven in

ten feel that it offers high quality independent news (71%), that it represents Scotland (70%),

and that it gives them a better understanding of news and topical issues in Scotland (70%).


4% 7% 7% 15% 30% 13% 21%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

BBC Scotland TV news Q15

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

3%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

64%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

33%

Mean:

7.7

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Base: All who watch UK-wide news (217)

Q15. Thinking about BBC Scotland’s TV news, within the UK wide broadcasts, what is your overall impression?


BBC Scotland TV NewsQ17. BBC Scotland’s television news programmes are…

30

23

26

19

13

51

49

43

45

27

12

19

21

25

41

5

6

6

7

13

1

1

2

2

3

1

3

2

2

3

…informative

…relevant to me

…high-quality

…engaging

…different from other providers


Base: All who watch BBC Scotland’s television news (408)

Agree

81%

71%

69%

64%

40%



Q18a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Scotland’s television news… – Performance Q18b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Scotland’s television news…? - Importance

As shown in the chart above, BBC Scotland is currently performing best in the areas

considered most important by viewers, but has performance gaps of between -12 and -15.

Similar performance gaps can be seen on measures such as relating national and

international news to the viewer’s region and helping them to understand politics and

decision-making in Scotland, although these are viewed as being slightly less important than

other measures previously mentioned.

Q18a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Scotland’s television news… – Performance Q18b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Scotland’s television news…? - Importance

In the provision of online content, both in general and specifically on social media, BBC

Scotland TV news is performing beyond expectations, resulting in performance gaps of +14

and +5 respectively. This is largely due to the low importance attributed to the provision of

online content and social media (37% and 32% respectively).


76%

88%

71%

86%

70%

84%

70%

82%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Scotland News (1 of 2)



Q18b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that… - Importance

…gives me a better

understanding of news and

topical issues in Scotland

…provides accurate and up-

to-date news

…represents Scotland

-12

-15

-14

-12

…provides high-quality,

independent news

Gap


66%

80%

64%

77%

51%

37%

37%

32%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Scotland News (2 of 2)



Q18b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Scotland News… - Importance

…provides additional content on

social media such as Facebook

and Twitter

…relates national and

international news to my region

…provides content online e.g.

video clips

-14

-13

+14

+5

…helps me understand

politics and decision-making in

Scotland

Gap



2.7.2 BBC Scotland’s TV current affairs/political programmes

TV current affairs programmes on BBC Scotland are considered favourably by just under

half of viewers (49%). Four in ten (40%) feel neutral about these programmes and one in ten

(10%) has an unfavourable impression.

Q19. Thinking about BBC Scotland’s current affairs/political programmes on TV, what is your

overall impression?

These programmes score fairly well in their main performance metrics. Almost eight in ten

(78%) agree they are informative and around seven in ten feel they are high quality (72%),

relevant (70%) and engaging (68%).

Q20. BBC Scotland’s current affairs/political programmes are…

BBC Scotland TV current affairs programming scores highly in certain areas, with eight in

ten agreeing that it covers a wide range of topics and subject matter (82%), and provides

viewers with political analysis (80%). These measures also show small performance gaps,

showing that BBC Scotland is meeting its audience’s needs in these areas.


6% 3%3% 8% 4% 25% 25% 10% 15%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

BBC Scotland CA/pol Q19

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

10%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

49%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

40%

Mean:

7.1

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Base: All who watch BBC Current affairs programming (135)

Q19. Thinking about BBC Scotland’s current affairs/political programmes on TV, what is your overall impression?


BBC Scotland TV Current AffairsQ20. BBC Scotland’s current affairs/political programmes are…

34

28

23

25

44

44

48

43

10

13

17

17

4

6

6

6

6

7

5

7

2

2

2

2

…informative

…high-quality

…relevant to me

…engaging


Base: All who watch BBC current affairs programming (135)

Agree

78%

72%

70%

68%



Q21a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC current affairs programming… – Performance Q21b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC current affairs programming…? - Importance

Fewer than eight in ten (77%) also agree that these programmes cover the important

political stories in Scotland, but the extremely high importance score for this measure (90%

of people feel this is important) results in a medium-sized gap of -13. Seven in ten (72%) feel

that BBC Scotland TV current affairs programmes give them a better understanding of

topical issues in Scotland.

Seven in ten respondents agree that these programmes are relevant (71%), that they

explain complex issues (70%) and that they investigate and scrutinise issues and institutions

(70%). Two in three feel that these programmes reflect local issues and concerns (65%).

Q21a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC current affairs programming… – Performance Q21b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC current affairs

programming…? - Importance

Although a majority of viewers (60%) agree that BBC Scotland TV current affairs

programmes hold decision makers in Scotland to account, this measure also has the largest

performance gap (-21).


82%

83%

80%

86%

77%

90%

72%

86%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance


understanding of topical

issues in Scotland


Gap

-14

-1

-6

-13

…covers a wide range of

topics and subject matter

…provides political analysis

…covers the important

political stories in Scotland

BBC Scotland TV Current Affairs (1 of 2)Q21a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance




2.8 BBC Scotland News Online

A majority of those who use BBC Scotland news online hold a favourable impression of the

service overall (56%). Fewer than four in ten (39%) are neutral and just 3% say they have a

negative impression.

Q23. Thinking about BBC Scotland news online, what is your overall impression on a scale of

1 to 10?

Three quarters (74%) of people who claim to use BBC Scotland News online or the BBC

Scotland pages on the BBC News app access them via a desktop computer or laptop and

just under half (47%) say they do so via a smartphone. Tablets are used by three in ten

(30%) and slightly over one in ten (12%) say they use a connected TV.

Q22. How do you tend to access the BBC Scotland news online?

BBC Scotland News online scores fairly highly on several of its key performance metrics.

More than eight in ten users (82%) agree that BBC Scotland news online is informative and

almost three quarters (74%) feel it is relevant. Seven in ten (70%) feel it is high quality and

more than six in ten (62%) agree that it provides the right amount of news for their area.


5% 8% 7% 19% 34% 12% 10%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10


TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

3%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

56%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

39%

Mean:

7.4

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Base: All who use BBC Scotland online/BBC Scotland pages on the BBC News app (221)

Q23. Thinking about BBC Scotland new online, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10?


Accessing BBC Scotland News onlineQ22. How do you tend to access the BBC Scotland news online?


74%

47%

30%

12%

<1%

Via desktop computer/laptop

Via smartphone

Via tablet

Through a connected TV

Other



Q24. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement that BBC Scotland news

online…

BBC Scotland news online also scores well in other areas: almost eight in ten (78%) agree

that it provides them with up-to-date news about Scotland and over seven in ten (72%) say it

feels relevant. However, there is a significant performance gap in the provision of high

quality, independent news – although almost seven in ten people (69%) feel BBC Scotland

news online does provide this, it has a very high importance score of 91%, leaving a

performance gap of -22.

Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Scotland news online… – Performance Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Scotland news online…?

- Importance

Performance gaps in other areas, especially in the provision of clear links to other local

media and information providers, are relatively low, as shown in the chart below.


BBC Scotland News OnlineQ24. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement? BBC Scotland news online…

30

25

29

18

51

49

41

44

12

16

21

20

3

6

5

12

1

2

2

4

2

2

2

2

...is informative

…is relevant to me

…is high-quality

…provides the right amount of news for my area



Agree

82%

74%

70%

62%


BBC Scotland news online (1 of 2)

78%

92%

72%

86%

69%

91%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Gap

-14

-14

-22


…provides me with up to

date news about Scotland

…provides high quality,

independent news

Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Scotland news online…

Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Scotland news online…




Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Scotland news online… – Performance Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Scotland news online…?

- Importance

2.9 Gaelic language services

When asked about their level of Gaelic comprehension, more than nine in ten (94%) of

respondents said they cannot understand any Gaelic. The results are shown in the chart

below.

QA. Can you understand, speak, read or write Gaelic?

As highlighted in section 2.3, only 6% of respondents claim to use the BBC’s Gaelic services

in Scotland, with 5% claiming to watch BBC Alba programming and 2% saying they listen to

BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. These samples are too small to confidently analyse.


66%

78%

51%

58%

50%

61%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Gap

-12

-7

-11

…provides clear links to

other local media and

information providers

…provides information of

local interest, such as

sport, culture/arts and

events

…sources or shares

content with other providers

of local information

Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Scotland news online…

Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Scotland news online…

BBC Scotland news online (2 of 2)



Gaelic Speaking QA. Can you understand, speak, read or write Gaelic?


4%

2%

2%

2%

94%

Understand spoken Gaelic

Speak Gaelic

Read Gaelic

Write Gaelic

Cannot understand any Gaelic



3. Wales

3.1 Overall favourability towards the BBC in Wales

Almost six in ten people in Wales (58%) have a favourable overall impression of the BBC,

with 14% giving it a score of ten out of ten. Just over one third of people (35%) are neutral

and 6% say they hold a negative impression of the BBC overall.


These figures are fairly consistent across all age groups, but there is some variation

according to socio-economic group, in particular, DEs (45%) who are less likely to have a

favourable opinion than ABs (63%), C1s (65%) or C2s (63%).

3.2 Serving audiences in Wales

Over seven in ten people in Wales (72%) feel that the BBC serves audiences in Wales well,

with just under a quarter (24%) saying it does this ‘very well’. Fewer than two in ten people

(17%) feel the BBC neither does this neither well nor badly, and fewer than one in ten (7%)

say the BBC does not serve audiences in Wales well.


3%3% 9% 7% 16% 26% 19% 14%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

6%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

58%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

35%

Mean:

7.4

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Base: All respondents in Wales (500)

Overall Impression of the BBC in WalesQ4. Thinking about the BBC generally, what is your overall impression?



Q5. How well does the BBC as a whole serve audiences specifically in Wales?

There is no significant variation by age or gender, though there is some difference across

socio-economic groups. Those in the C2 group are generally the most positive with almost

eight in ten (78%) saying the BBC serves audiences in Wales well and four in ten (40%)

saying ‘very well’, compared with an average of two in ten (20%) across the other three

groups. This finding could be explained by the claimed use of different services among

different social grades. Those in a C2 social grade are significantly more likely to claim to

use Welsh language services; one in five (19%) C2 respondents say they use these services

compared to 7% of C1 respondents and 9% of DE respondents. Those in the C2 social

grade group are also significantly more likely to say that they listen to BBC Radio Wales

compared to other groups (37% compared to 21%-27% for other groups).

3.3 Claimed use of news in Wales

The most popular means by which people claim to use news and information for Wales is

television, used by more than eight in ten people (85%). More than half (55%) also say they

use local newspapers while just under half (49%) use internet sites, apps, or blogs. Four in

ten (41%) also say they listen to local radio stations and a similar number use social media

sites (39%).


24%

48%

17%

BBC in Wales



TOTAL:

Well 72%

TOTAL:

Not well 7%

How well BBC serves WalesQ5.How well does the BBC as a whole serve audiences specifically in Wales?



Q1. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use to access news and information for Wales?

As in the other nations, social media is much more commonly claimed as a source for news

by younger people. Almost two thirds (64%) of 16-34s say they access news and information

for Wales on social media sites, compared with fewer than two in ten of the over 55s. Those

aged 16-34 are also greater users of news websites, apps and blogs, although the difference

is not as pronounced when compared with over 55s. Over four in ten of those aged 55 and

over (41%) say they use these mediums, compared to over five in ten (56%) of the 16-34s.

BBC Wales TV news is the most commonly used BBC source for Welsh news and current

affairs, with more than eight in ten (83%) claiming to watch it. More than a third also say they

use BBC Wales news online (36%) and watch BBC Wales current affairs and political

programmes on TV (35%). Just over a quarter (27%) say they listen to BBC Radio Wales

and just over two in ten use BBC social media channels (23%). Over one in ten say they use

the BBC Wales pages on the BBC News app (15%) and listen to BBC Radio Cymru (12%),

with just 7% saying they do not use any BBC sources at all.

Q2. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use the BBC for UK and Welsh news and

current affairs?


Accessing Welsh newsQ1. Which, if any, of the following ways do you access news and information for Wales?


85%

55%

49%

41%

39%

3%


Local newspapers






Using the BBC for Welsh newsQ2. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use the BBC for UK and Welsh news and current affairs?


83%

36%

35%

27%

23%

15%

12%

7%

2%

BBC Wales TV news (e.g. regional news bulletins on BBC One)

BBC Wales news online

Wales current affairs/political programmes on TV

BBC Radio Wales

Social media (e.g. your BBC Wales or BBC Radio Wales/Cymru onFacebook or Twitter)

BBC Wales pages on the BBC News App

BBC Radio Cymru

None of the above

Other



BBC Wales TV news is particularly popular with older viewers and is watched by more than

nine in ten people aged over 55 (92%). Younger people say they favour online sources, with

over half of 25-34 year olds saying they use BBC Wales news online (53%) and BBC social

media (49%).

3.4 Types of Welsh news and information consumed –

unprompted

As in Scotland, when asked (unprompted) what types of Welsh or national news they

consume on a typical weekday, people in Wales mention a variety of different sources. Most

give multiple news sources and say that their media consumption does not vary significantly

on different days.

'There is no difference to the way I access national or local news over the weekend. I have bulletins

sent from the BBC via email, then I access news stories from there. I also have the BBC weather app

for the local weather and any warnings therein. I also sometimes watch both national and local BBC

news occasionally on the television. Very rarely do I listen to the news on the radio.’

(Female, 55-64)

'I read news on BBC online for south east Wales daily, almost but not every day Welsh evening news

either on ITV or BBC Wales, and occasionally Wales This Week on television. Also sometimes

someone will post a news item on Facebook.’

(Female, 65 and over)

Some mention specific information, such as traffic and weather updates that they get from

more locally-focused news sites.

'The local news, sports as well. Check the weather forecast as well. It's the same for weekend and

weekdays.’

(Male, 65 and over)

‘'I listen to BBC Radio Wales on the hour and mainly for weather condition and traffic.’

(Female, 55-64)

Other people say they consume less local news at weekends. For some, this is because

they are either busier or less interested, while others suggest there is less local or Welsh

news available at the weekend.

‘I read the Welsh news on my BBC news app and I follow the pages on Facebook and Twitter. I

probably pay less attention to the news over the weekends.’

(Female, 25-34)



‘I probably look for Welsh news a little more during the week, but not much. I think there is less Welsh

news on a weekend, unless there's rugby on!’

(Female, 35-44)

'It does not differ when it comes to TV news, however it does annoy me that the Welsh news is given

little time on weekends. Local news is just that local news just to my bit of Wales. Internet news the

same, even on so called dedicated sites.’

(Male, 55-64)

3.5 Reasons for not using the BBC for news about Wales

Of the relatively small number of respondents who say they do not use any of the BBC’s

services for Welsh news or current affairs, a common reason was lack of interest in Welsh-

specific news, or news in general. A small minority object to BBC coverage or prefer the

style of other broadcasters.

'I am not really interested in the news.’

(Female, 16-24)

'I am not generally interested in Welsh affairs.’

(Female, 16-24)

‘The BBC is politically left wing.’


3.6 BBC Radio Wales

Overall, listeners of BBC Radio Wales have a very favourable impression of the station.

More than six in ten (63%) say they have a favourable view, more than three in ten (36%)

are neutral and less than 1% expressed a negative view.



Q7. Thinking about BBC Radio Wales, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10?

The most commonly claimed programmes on BBC Radio Wales are news bulletins (67%)

and breakfast news (66%). Over four in ten say they listen to daytime talk and discussion

shows (45%), sports coverage (44%) and music programmes (43%).

Q8. Please select all the kinds of programming that you listen to on BBC Radio Wales

Around one quarter of listeners say they tune in for comedy programmes (26%),

documentaries (24%) and drama (24%). Two in ten (20%) also listen to arts and culture

programming.

Among listeners, BBC Radio Wales is well regarded, and a large majority agrees that it

provides informative, high quality and entertaining programmes that distinguish it from other

stations.


4% 8% 24% 32% 11% 19%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

*

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

63%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

36%

Mean:

7.9

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Base: All who listen to BBC Radio Wales (131)

Overall Impression of BBC Radio WalesQ7. Thinking about BBC Radio Wales, what is your overall impression?


Programming on BBC Radio WalesQ8. Please select all of the kinds of programming that you listen to on BBC Radio Wales


67%

66%

45%

44%

43%

26%

24%

24%

20%

4%


Breakfast news


Sports coverage

Music programmes

Comedy

Documentaries

Drama

Arts and culture

Other




Wales…

Almost nine in ten listeners (88%) agree that BBC Radio Wales is informative and more than

eight in ten feel that it provides high quality programming (84%), which is also entertaining

(83%). Almost three quarters of listeners (73%) agree that BBC Radio Wales is distinctive

compared with other radio stations.

In Wales, despite the small base sizes involved, there is also a general trend that can be

observed when comparing different age groups. Generally, those aged 16-34 are the most

positive and express the most favourable views, while those aged 35-54 are more frequently

dissatisfied, often giving the lowest scores. More detail can be found in Appendix 6.

3.6.1 BBC Radio Wales: News

BBC Radio Wales News is seen to be performing well across all of its performance metrics,

resulting in very small performance gaps and suggesting that the station is successfully

meeting listeners’ needs and expectations.

Almost nine in ten listeners agree that the station provides high quality news (89%) with

more than eight in ten saying it gives them a better understanding of news and topical issues

in Wales (86%), and that it has the right balance of serious and lighter news stories (83%).


BBC Radio WalesQ9. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Radio Wales…

49

37

37

37

39

48

45

36

9

10

14

23

1

4

1

4

1

2

2

1

1

…is informative






Agree

88%

84%

83%

73%



Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Radio Wales… – Performance Q10b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Radio Wales…? –

Importance

Around eight in ten listeners also agree that BBC Radio Wales gives them a better

understanding of news and topical issues in the UK (80%) and that the station helps them to

understand what is happening in the wider world, such as international news and events

(78%). Although these two measures have the largest performance gaps for this section, at -

4 and -5 respectively they are still very low.

3.6.2 BBC Radio Wales: Politics and Sport

BBC Radio Wales has relatively small performance gaps across its other performance

measures, suggesting the station is seen to be meeting the needs of its listeners.

In the field of politics, almost three quarters of listeners (74%) agree that BBC Radio Wales

helps them to understand politics in Wales and around seven in ten (69%) say that it helps

them to understand UK-wide politics.


Importance


89%

89%

86%

85%

83%

85%

80%

84%

78%

83%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Wales: News


-5





Wales



UK


-4

-

-2

+1






Gap


74%

78%

69%

74%

77%

68%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Wales: Politics & SportQ10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance



politics


sport


Wales-4

+9

-5

Gap


Sport



When it comes to sport, almost eight in ten (77%) agree that the station provides coverage

of a variety of sport and two thirds (68%) ranked this as important, resulting in a positive

performance gap of +9.

3.6.3 BBC Radio Wales: Cultural broadcasting

In cultural programming, the station is also seen to be performing well, with around three

quarters of listeners agreeing that BBC Radio Wales supports arts and culture in Wales

(76%), that the station introduces them to new presenters, performers and artists from Wales

(75%), and that it supports Welsh music (74%).


Importance

3.6.4 BBC Radio Wales: Representation

More than eight in ten listeners say that the station provides content and programming that

caters for the population of Wales (85%) and that it highlights important social issues (84%).

Fewer than eight in ten (79%) also agree that they hear a range of voices from around

Wales on the station, and all of these measures have consistently small performance gaps.


76%

71%

75%

74%

74%

79%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Wales: CultureQ10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance

Q10b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that…? - Importance


in Wales



artists from Wales

...supports Welsh music -5

+5

+1

Gap





Importance

BBC Radio Wales is generally seen to perform well in terms of reflecting listeners’ local

interests and concerns (77%) and the diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Wales

(65%). However, it records a slightly larger performance gap when it comes to portraying

listeners’ cultures or communities. While two thirds (67%) agree that the station is good at

portraying their particular culture or community, almost eight in ten (78%) ranked this

measure as important, resulting in the largest gap for any of these measures (-11). This

could therefore be a possible area of improvement for the future.


Importance

3.6.5 Listener participation on BBC Radio Wales

Generally, listeners are satisfied with the amount of listener participation on BBC Radio

Wales. Seven in ten (70%) feel that the current level is just right, fewer than two in ten (16%)

think there is not enough listener participation, and less than one in ten (6%) feel that there

is too much.


85%

84%

84%

84%

79%

77%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Wales: Representation (1 of 2)Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance




population of Wales


social issues


Wales, I hear a range of voices

from around Wales

+2

+1

-

Gap



77%

82%

67%

78%

65%

71%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance



Wales



to other people in Wales


concerns

-6

-5

-11

Gap


BBC Radio Wales: Representation (2 of 2)Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance





participation on BBC Radio Wales?

3.6.6 BBC Radio Wales’ website

A majority of people who listen to BBC Radio Wales also use the station’s website and most

of them have a favourable impression. Over half of all listeners (55%) say they use the site,

and almost four in ten (37%) have a favourable overall impression. Fewer than two in ten

(17%) say they feel neutral about it, and just 1% has an unfavourable view.

Q12. Thinking about BBC Radio Wales’s website, what is your overall impression?


Listener participation on BBC Radio WalesQ11a. Would you say that there is too much, just the right amount, or not enough listener participation on BBC

Radio Wales?


8%

16%

70%

6%


Too much

Just enough

Not enough

Don't know


BBC Radio Wales’s websiteQ12. Thinking about BBC Radio Wales’s website, what is your overall impression?


5%

39%

37%

17%

1%

BBC Radio Wales's Website

Unfavourable (1-3)

Neutral (4-7)

Favourable (8-10)

Do not use the BBC Radio Wales'swebsite

Didn't know BBC Radio Wales hada website

55% using

the website



3.7 BBC Radio Cymru

Listeners to BBC Radio Cymru also say they are broadly satisfied with the station and six in

ten (59%) have a favourable overall impression of the service.

Q7a. Thinking about BBC Radio Cymru, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10?

More than one third of listeners (37%) feel neutral about BBC Radio Cymru and just 2%

have a negative overall impression. However, the base size for those saying they listen to

BBC Radio Cymru (58) is too small to permit any further analysis.

3.8 BBC Wales Television News and Current Affairs

The most commonly watched programmes in the news and current affairs offer are Wales

Today, with claimed viewing by seven in ten viewers (70%), and the UK wide news at 6pm

and 10pm and the BBC News channel, which are both seen by almost six in ten adults

(57%).

Q13. Which, if any, of BBC Wales’s TV news or current affairs/political programmes do you

tend to watch?


2% 16% 20% 22% 18% 18%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

2%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

59%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

37%

Mean:

7.9

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Base: All who listen to BBC Radio Cymru (58)

Overall Impression of BBC Radio CymruQ7a. Thinking about BBC Radio Cymru, what is your overall impression?


Using BBC Wales TV News/Current AffairsQ13. Which, if any, of BBC Wales’s TV news or current affairs/political programmes do you tend to watch?

Base: All who use BBC Wales television news or current affairs (431)

70%

57%

57%

30%

23%

22%

12%

5%

5%

Wales Today

UK Wide News e.g. BBC News at Six; BBC News at Ten

BBC News Channel

Week In Week Out

The Wales Report

BBC Breakfast on Network Radio e.g. Radio 4's TodayProgramme or Radio 5 Live

Sunday Politics Wales

Don't watch BBC Wales's news or current affairs programmes

Other



Among those who claim to watch any BBC Wales television news or current affairs

programmes, three in ten also claim to watch Week In Week Out (30%), and more than two

in ten say they watch The Wales Report (23%) and listen to BBC Breakfast on network radio

(22%). Just over one in ten (12%) say they watch Sunday Politics Wales.

Generally, viewers are happy with the quality and reliability of the news for Wales and the

UK wide news bulletins, and with the balance of stories available.

Nine in ten (89%) agree that the UK and Welsh news shown on BBC1 at 1pm, 6pm and

10pm provide high quality and trustworthy stories. More than eight in ten agree that there is

a good balance between stories from Wales, the rest of the UK, and the wider world (83%),

and that the mix of news stories is relevant (81%).

Q14. The BBC’s television news for Wales is provided on BBC1 alongside news for the whole

UK (at 1pm, 6pm, 10pm). To what extent do you agree that these programmes taken together

serve you with…

More than three quarters of those who watch the BBC News channel and/or listen to BBC

Breakfast on network radio (76%) also agree that these services provide them with a good

balance of UK, international, and Welsh news stories.

3.8.1 BBC Wales TV news

Overall, the majority of people who claim to watch BBC Wales TV news have a favourable

impression of the Welsh news that is shown alongside the UK-wide bulletin at 1pm, 6pm and

10pm. Just under two thirds of viewers (64%) have a favourable impression, a third is neutral

(34%) and just 2% has an unfavourable impression.


TV News & Current AffairsQ14. BBC1 Welsh and UK News. Q14x. BBC News Channel/BBC Breakfast on Network Radio

43

35

38

31

46

48

43

44

8

11

12

16

3

5

7

5 3

1

1


A good balance of UK,international and Welsh news?

A mix of UK, international andWelsh news that feels relevant to

me?


Welsh news?


Base Q14: All who use UK wide news (254)

Base Q14x: All who use BBC News Channel or BBC Breakfast on network radio (262).

Agree

89%

81%

83%

Q14. The BBC’s television news for Wales is provided on BBC1 alongside news for the whole UK (at 1pm, 6pm, 10pm).

To what extent do you agree that these programmes taken together serve you with…

76%




Q15. Thinking about BBC Wales’s TV news, within the UK wide broadcasts, what is your

overall impression?

A large majority of viewers agree that BBC Wales television news programmes are

informative (82%), high quality (75%) and relevant (72%). Just under seven in ten (68%) say

the programmes are engaging and half (51%) feel they are different from those available

from other providers.

Q17. BBC Wales’s television news programmes are…

BBC Wales television news is generally seen to perform well across its performance

measures, with only small performance gaps. More than eight in ten viewers agree that it

provides accurate and up-to-date news (82%) and more than seven in ten feel that it

represents Wales (77%), that it gives them a better understanding of news and topical

issues in Wales (77%), and that it provides high quality, independent news (75%). At -11,

this last measure has the largest performance gap for BBC Wales TV news.


4% 7% 21% 31% 14% 18%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

BBC WalesTV news Q15

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

2%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

64%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

34%

Mean:

7.8

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable


Q15. Thinking about BBC Wales’ TV news, within the UK wide broadcasts, what is your overall impression?


BBC Wales TV NewsQ17. BBC Wales’s television news programmes are…

37

35

28

24

22

45

41

44

44

30

13

17

19

22

34

3

5

6

6

8

1

1

2

2

2

1

1

1

2

4

...informative

...high quality

…relevant to me

…engaging



Base: All who watch BBC Wales’s television news (422)

Agree

82%

75%

72%

68%

51%



Q18a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Wales’s television news… – Performance Q18b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Wales’s television

news…? – Importance

Similar gaps (of -10) were recorded for relating national and international news to viewers’

regions (71% agree BBC Wales TV news does this) and for helping viewers understand

politics and decision-making in Wales (67% agree). In some areas relating to online content

and the use of social media, BBC Wales is exceeding viewers’ expectations.

Q18a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Wales’s television news… – Performance Q18b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Wales’s television

news…? – Importance


82%

88%

77%

81%

77%

83%

75%

86%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Wales TV News (1 of 2)






topical issues in Wales


to-date news

…represents Wales

-6

-4

-6

-11…provides high-quality,

independent news

Gap


71%

81%

67%

77%

52%

43%

38%

33%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Wales TV News (2 of 2)



Q18b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Wales News… - Importance



and Twitter




video clips

-10

-10

+9

+5



Wales

Gap



3.8.2 BBC Wales TV Current Affairs/Political programmes

A majority of viewers have a positive overall impression of BBC Wales current affairs and

political programming. Six in ten view it favourably (61%), more than three in ten are neutral

(35%) and just 2% have a negative impression of these programmes.

Q19. Thinking about BBC Wales’s current affairs/political programmes on TV, what is your

overall impression?

Nearly nine in ten viewers say current affairs and political programmes are informative (88%)

and over eight in ten saying they are high quality (82%). Three quarters of viewers also

agree these programmes are relevant to them, and that they are engaging (both 75%).

Q20. BBC Wales’s current affairs/political programmes are…

While most people agree that BBC Wales TV current affairs programmes give them a better

understanding of topical issues in Wales (81%); that they investigate and scrutinise issues

and institutions (79%); and that they reflect local issues and concerns (78%), the high

importance that viewers attribute to these areas means all three have performance gaps of -

11 or greater.


2%3% 5% 9% 18% 31% 14% 16%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

2%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

61%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

35%

Mean:

7.7

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable


Overall Impression of BBC Wales TV Current AffairsQ19. Thinking about BBC Wales’s current affairs/political programmes on TV, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10?


BBC Wales TV Current AffairsQ20. BBC Wales’s current affairs/political programmes are…

39

34

31

29

49

47

44

46

8

14

16

14

1

1

4

7

2

1

1

2

1

1

3

3

…informative

…high-quality

…relevant to me

…engaging



Agree

88%

82%

75%

75%




programming…? – Importance

There are also larger performance gaps when it comes to covering a wide range of topics

and subject matter (-14), feeling relevant to viewers (-15) and explaining complex issues (-

16). The greatest shortfall, however, is in relation to holding decision makers in Wales to

account. While close to two thirds (65%) agree that programmes already do this, a greater

number (88%) believe it is important, resulting in a performance gap of -23. This could

therefore be a key area for future improvement.




BBC Wales TV Current Affairs (1 of 2)

83%

88%

81%

92%

79%

92%

78%

90%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance



issues in Wales


Gap

-12

-5

-11

-13

Q21a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Q21b. How important or unimportant is it for you personally that BBC Wales’s current affairs/political programmes…?


political stories in Wales

…investigates and scrutinises

issues and institutions

…reflects local issues and

concerns


77%

91%

75%

83%

72%

87%

71%

87%

65%

88%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

…explains complex issues

…holds decision makers in

Wales to account

…are relevant to me


Gap

-23

-14

-15

-8

-16




BBC Wales TV Current Affairs (2 of 2)Q21a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Q21b. How important or unimportant is it for you personally that BBC Wales’s current affairs/political programmes…?



3.9 BBC Wales News Online

Users of BBC Wales news online generally view the service positively. Over six in ten (62%)

have a favourable overall impression, over three in ten (36%) are neutral, and 1% has an

unfavourable impression.

Q23. Thinking about BBC Wales news online, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to

10?

The most popular way to access BBC Wales news online is on a desktop computer or

laptop, claimed by almost eight in ten users (79%). Fewer than four in ten (39%) claim to use

a smartphone and slightly fewer (35%) a tablet. Just over one in ten (12%) say they access

this service using a connected TV.

Q22. How do you tend to access the BBC Wales news online?

Users of BBC Wales news online also agree that the service performs well. Nine in ten feel it

is informative (91%), eight in ten say it is relevant to them (83%) and high quality (81%), and

seven in ten feel it provides the right amount of news for their area (71%).


5% 9% 22% 31% 17% 14%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

1%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

62%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

36%

Mean:

7.8

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Overall Impression of BBC Wales News OnlineQ23. Thinking about BBC Wales news online, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10?

Base: All who use BBC Wales news online/BBC Wales pages on the BBC News App (215)


Accessing BBC Wales News onlineQ22. How do you tend to access the BBC Wales news online?


79%

39%

35%

12%

1%


Via smartphone

Via tablet


Other



Q24. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement that BBC Wales news

online…

BBC Wales news online appears to meet the needs of its audience. When it comes to

providing users with up to date news about Wales, providing high quality independent news,

and feeling relevant to its users, no performance gap exceeds -8.

Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Wales news online… – Performance Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Wales news online…? -

Importance

BBC Wales news online also scores well in the provision of information of local interest

(performance gap of -4), providing clear links to other local media/information providers (-3),

and sourcing or sharing content with other such providers (-5).


BBC Wales News OnlineQ24. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement? BBC Wales news online…

43

35

43

31

48

48

39

40

7

15

15

17

1

1

2

9 3 1

...is informative


…is high-quality




Agree

91%

83%

81%

71%


BBC Wales News Online (1 of 2)

89%

90%

82%

90%

79%

85%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Gap

-1

-8

-6…is relevant to me


date news about Wales


independent news

Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Wales news online…

Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Wales news online…




Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Wales news online… – Performance Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Wales news online…? -

Importance


79%

83%

66%

69%

65%

70%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Gap

-4

-3

-5







events




BBC Wales News Online (2 of 2)Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Wales news online…

Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Wales news online…




4. Northern Ireland

4.1 Overall favourability towards the BBC in Northern Ireland

A majority of people in Northern Ireland have a positive overall view of the BBC. More than

half of those surveyed (56%) have a favourable impression, over than a third (35%) is

neutral and fewer than one in ten (8%) have an unfavourable impression.


Those aged 45-54 are significantly more likely to have an unfavourable impression of the

BBC. One in five in this group (20%) say this, compared with an average of just 6% in other

age groups. Views do not however vary significantly by gender or socio-economic grouping.

4.2 Serving audiences in Northern Ireland

Three quarters of people (76%) feel that the BBC as a whole serves audiences in Northern

Ireland well, with one quarter (25%) saying it does this ‘very well’. Just over one in ten are

neutral while a similar number believes the BBC does not do this well (both 11%).


4% 5% 11% 6% 13% 25% 16% 15%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

8%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

56%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

35%

Mean:

7.2

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Base: All respondents in Northern Ireland (514)

Overall Impression of the BBC in Northern IrelandQ4. Thinking about the BBC generally, what is your overall impression?



Q5. How well does the BBC as a whole serve audiences specifically in Northern Ireland?

Older people and those from lower socio-economic groups are more likely to say the BBC

serves Northern Ireland audiences well. More than eight in ten (86%) of those aged over 65

say the BBC does this well, compared with an overall average of 76% and a rating of 67%

(the lowest recorded) among 45-54s. Just over seven in ten ABC1s (73%) think the BBC

serves audiences well in Northern Ireland, compared with eight in ten (80%) of C2DEs.

4.3 Claimed use of news in Northern Ireland

Television is by far the most popular medium for news and information on Northern Ireland,

with claimed use by nine in ten adults (91%). Local radio stations, including the BBC,

commercial and community radio are the second most popular choice, with claimed use by

two thirds of people (66%).

Q1. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use to access news and information for

Northern Ireland?


25%

51%

11%

7%

BBC in Northern Ireland


TOTAL:

Well 76%

TOTAL:

Not well 11%

How well BBC serves Northern IrelandQ5.How well does the BBC as a whole serve audiences specifically in Northern Ireland?



Accessing Northern Irish newsQ1. Which, if any, of the following ways do you access news and information for Northern Ireland?


91%

66%

58%

56%

47%

2%



Local newspapers






Fewer than six in ten people say they read local newspapers (58%) or use internet sites,

apps or blogs to access news and information on Northern Ireland (56%). Just under half

(47%) say they use social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

As is generally the case, younger people say they are more regular consumers of online

content than older people: over seven in ten 16-34s say they get their news from internet

sites, apps or blogs (72%) or from social media (74%). Fewer than four in ten (37%) of those

aged 55 and over say that they use websites, apps or blogs for news and just two in ten

(22%) say they use social media. Conversely, local newspapers are read by two thirds of

those aged 55 and over (66%), compared with just over half (52%) of 16-34s.

Of the various sources of BBC news, by far the most widely used is the BBC Northern

Ireland TV news, which has claimed viewing by over eight in ten adults (86%). This is

followed by BBC Northern Ireland news online and current affairs and political programmes

on TV, which have claimed use by more than four in ten adults (45% and 44% respectively).

Q2. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use the BBC for UK and Northern Irish news

and current affairs?

Just under two in five people (37%) say they listen to BBC Radio Ulster and just under one

in three (31%) say they use BBC social media pages. The BBC Northern Ireland pages on

the BBC news app are used by one in six (17%). Fewer respondents listen to BBC Radio

Foyle (9%) and just 4% say they do not use any BBC news sources. Unsurprisingly, those

with an unfavourable view of the BBC are significantly less likely to use its services than

those with a favourable view (12% of those who are unfavourable do not use any BBC

services compared to just 2% who are favourable to the BBC).

4.4 Types of Northern Irish news and information consumed –

unprompted

As in Scotland and Wales, many people report using multiple sources of local news and, in

many cases, their usage does not vary at weekends.


Using the BBC for Northern Irish newsQ2. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use the BBC for UK and NI news and current affairs?


86%

45%

44%

37%

31%

17%

9%

4%

3%

BBC Northern Ireland TV news (e.g. regional news bulletins on BBCOne)

BBC Northern Ireland news online

Northern Ireland current affairs/political programmes on TV

BBC Radio Ulster

Social media (e.g. your BBC Northern Ireland or BBC RadioUlster/Foyle on Facebook or Twitter)

BBC Northern Ireland pages on the BBC News App

BBC Radio Foyle

None of the above

Other



'I watch the BBC News every morning and that’s where I see the local news for Northern Ireland, I

read the Daily Mail every day and the Sunday Mail every Sunday. I buy the local Belfast Telegraph

every Tuesday and Wednesday and I listen to Radio Foyle in my car radio.’

(Female, 45-54)

‘Mainly my news intake will be from Television news from both BBC and ITV. I also [use] Yahoo news

online, sometimes use BBC local news and I follow ITV news on Facebook. On some occasions I will

also hear news from my local radio station but this is quite rare.’

(Female, 55-64)

'[I] always use the same sources every day; radio news on the hour and the evening news at teatime.’

(Male, 45-54)

However, some people are interested in different things at different times, for example, when

travelling to work they want traffic and transport updates but during the weekend they want

information on sports fixtures.

'Mainly radio updates during the week for general news and sport at the weekends, through TV, radio

and online.’

(Male, 45-54)

'I use the BBC app most days along with the Belfast live website. I tend to listen to the news on Radio

Ulster during the working week as I like to see what traffic disruption might be ongoing.’

(Female, 45-54)

4.5 Reasons for not using the BBC for Northern Ireland news

A small number of people say they do not use any BBC service for news on Northern

Ireland. While some lack interest in the news generally, others have an unfavourable view of

the BBC.

'I do not really follow the news; it is not of interest to me.’

(Male, 25-34)

'[I] prefer UTV; more relaxed when reading news.’


'They are a [government] mouthpiece and ALWAYS toe the party line. They DO NOT report the real

news in Northern Ireland.’

(Male, 45-54)

4.6 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle

Views on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle are generally positive, with nearly six in ten (57%) saying

they have a favourable overall impression, four in ten saying they feel neutral (40%) and just

3% saying they have an unfavourable impression.



Q7. Thinking about BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to

10?

There is some variation by socio-economic group; under half of ABC1s (48%) have a

favourable impression of the stations, but this rises to over six in ten (64%) C2DEs.

News bulletins are the most listened to programmes on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle attracting

three quarters of listeners (75%). Just under two thirds (64%) listen to the breakfast news

and over half (52%) to the various daytime talk and discussion shows.

Q8. Please select all the kinds of programming that you listen to on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle

Over four in ten adults (42%) listen to music programmes; around three in ten to sports

coverage (31%) and comedy programmes (28%); and over two in ten to documentaries

(22%). Fewer than two in ten adults meanwhile listen to arts and culture programmes and

dramas (17% and 12% respectively).

BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle is generally thought to perform well by listeners. Almost nine in ten

(87%) agree that it is informative and more than seven in ten feel it provides high quality

programming (76%), that it is distinctive (75%) and that it offers entertaining programmes

(73%).


3% 9% 10% 18% 24% 15% 18%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

3%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

57%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

40%

Mean:

7.6

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Base: All who listen to BBC Radio Ulster Foyle (194)

Overall Impression of BBC Radio Ulster FoyleQ7. Thinking about BBC Radio Ulster Foyle, what is your overall impression?


Programming on BBC Radio Ulster FoyleQ8. Please select all of the kinds of programming that you listen to on BBC Radio Ulster Foyle


75%

64%

52%

42%

31%

28%

22%

17%

12%

5%


Breakfast news


Music programmes

Sports coverage

Comedy

Documentaries

Arts and culture

Drama

Other




Ulster/Foyle…

Generally speaking, the most positive and favourable views among radio listeners in

Northern Ireland are expressed by older listeners (those aged 55 and above). While the

views of 16-34 year old listeners are often comparable to those of the older audience, the

most negative views tend to be expressed by those in between, aged 35 to 54, although the

small base sizes available should be borne in mind. For more detail, see Appendix 6.

4.6.1 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle: news

Radio Ulster/Foyle has positive scores for news provision, where performance gaps do not

exceed -11. In particular, over 80% of listeners agree that they get a better understanding of

news and topical issues in Northern Ireland from listening to the stations.

Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle… – Performance Q10b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle…? –

Importance

4.6.2 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle: politics and sport

Listeners also feel that the stations perform well in helping them to understand politics in

Northern Ireland, with a performance gap of just -1. The stations also exceed expectations in

the provision of sports coverage, which has a performance gap of +14.


BBC Radio Ulster FoyleQ9. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Radio Ulster Foyle…

37

32

30

30

49

44

45

43

10

17

20

18

2

5

4

6

2

1

1

1

1

2

…is informative






Agree

87%

76%

75%

73%


82%

90%

81%

85%

67%

74%

60%

71%

57%

67%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Ulster Foyle: News


-10





Northern Ireland



UK


-11

-8

-7

-4






Gap



Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle… – Performance Q10b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle…? –

Importance

4.6.3 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle: cultural broadcasting

BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle has consistently small performance gaps for cultural programming

and are seen to support Northern Ireland music (+3), introduce listeners to new presenters,

performers and artists from Northern Ireland (+3) and support arts and culture in Northern

Ireland (-2).

Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Radio Ulster Foyle… – Performance Q10b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Radio Ulster Foyle…? –

Importance

4.6.4 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle: Representation

In most areas relating to representation, the stations are seen to meet expectations.

The stations exceed listeners’ expectations of hearing a range of voices from around

Northern Ireland (+14) and score well on highlighting important social issues (-4) and

providing content that caters for the whole population (-5). They are also seen to reflect the


69%

70%

50%

60%

69%

55%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Ulster Foyle: Politics & SportQ10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance



politics


sport


Northern Ireland-1

+14

-10

Gap


Sport


70%

67%

67%

64%

65%

67%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Ulster Foyle: CultureQ10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance

Q10b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that…? - Importance


in Northern Ireland



artists from Northern Ireland

...supports Northern Irish

music

-2

+3

+3

Gap




diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Northern Ireland (no gap) and perform

reasonably well in the portrayal of particular cultures or communities (-9).

However, there is a larger gap in perceptions when it comes to reflecting listeners’ local

interests and concerns. While two thirds (65%) feel that the stations do achieve this, it is

considered to be important by more than eight in ten (82%), resulting in a performance gap

of -17 (the largest for all the radio measures).

Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Radio Ulster Foyle… – Performance Q10b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Radio Ulster Foyle…? –

Importance

4.6.5 Listener participation on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle

Listeners are generally satisfied with the amount of audience participation on the stations;

seven in ten (71%) feel the current level is about right, while 10% say there is not enough

and 12% feel there is too much .


83%

69%

76%

80%

74%

79%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC Radio Ulster Foyle: Representation (1 of 2)Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance




population of Northern Ireland


social issues


Ulster Foyle, I hear a range of

voices from around Northern

Ireland

-5

+14

-4

Gap



68%

68%

65%

82%

58%

67%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance



Northern Ireland



to other people in Northern

Ireland


concerns

-9

-

-17

Gap


BBC Radio Ulster Foyle: Representation (2 of 2)Q10a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Performance





participation on BBC Radio Ulster Foyle?

4.6.6 BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle’s website

Over half of listeners (56%) also say they use the website. While just over one quarter (27%)

has a favourable impression, a similar number is neutral (26%) and 3% has an unfavourable

view.

Q12. Thinking about BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle’s website, what is your overall impression?

4.7 BBC Northern Ireland Television News and Current Affairs

The most widely watched BBC TV news/current affairs programme in Northern Ireland is

BBC Newsline, which is watched by eight in ten viewers (79%). Over half also say they

watch UK wide news (52%) and Spotlight (51%).


Listener participation on BBC Radio Ulster FoyleQ11a. Would you say that there is too much, just the right amount, or not enough listener participation on BBC

Radio Ulster Foyle?


7%

10%

71%

12%


Too much

Just enough

Not enough

Don't know


BBC Radio Ulster Foyle’s websiteQ12. Thinking about BBC Radio Ulster Foyle’s website, what is your overall impression?


3%

40%

27%

26%

3%

BBC Radio Ulster Foyle's Website

Unfavourable (1-3)

Neutral (4-7)

Favourable (8-10)

Do not use the BBC RadioFoyle/Ulster website

Didn't know BBC Radio Foyle/Ulsterhad a website

56% using

the website



Q13. Which, if any, of BBC Northern Ireland’s TV news or current affairs/political programmes

do you tend to watch?

Just over four in ten viewers say they watch the BBC News channel (41%) and around two

in ten listen to BBC Breakfast on network radio (20%) and watch The View (19%). Just over

one in ten say they watch Stormont Today (12%) and Sunday Politics (11%).

Generally, viewers in Northern Ireland are satisfied with the mix of UK, international and

Northern Ireland news provided by the BBC. More than eight in ten (85%) agree that the

BBC One news programmes at 1pm, 6pm and 10pm provides a good balance of stories on

Northern Ireland, the UK and the rest of the world. The same number agrees that the stories

are relevant and 82% considers them to be high quality and trustworthy.

A further eight in ten (80%) consider that the BBC News channel, and BBC Breakfast on

network radio provide the same good balance of news stories.

Q14. The BBC’s television news for Northern Ireland is provided on BBC1 alongside news for

the whole UK (at 1pm, 6pm, 10pm). To what extent do you agree that these programmes taken

together serve you with…

4.7.1 BBC Northern Ireland television News

Two thirds (66%) of those who watch BBC news in Northern Ireland have a favourable

overall impression of the service, with just under two in ten (18%) scoring it ten out of ten.

Under one third (29%) is neutral and 3% has an unfavourable impression.


Using BBC Northern Ireland TV News/Current AffairsQ13. Which, if any, of BBC N. Ireland’s TV news or current affairs/political programmes do you tend to watch?

Base: All who use BBC Northern Ireland television news or current affairs (458)

79%

52%

51%

41%

20%

19%

12%

11%

5%

4%

BBC Newsline

UK-wide news, e.g. BBC News at Six, BBC News at Ten

Spotlight

BBC News Channel

BBC Breakfast on Network Radio e.g. Radio's Today Programmeor Radio 5 Live

The View

Stormont Today

Sunday Politics

Other

Don't watch BBC Northern Ireland's news or current affairsprogrammes


TV News & Current AffairsQ14. BBC1 Northern Ireland and UK News. Q14x. BBC News Channel/BBC Breakfast on Network Radio

45

41

44

34

40

44

38

46

10

10

11

13

4

4

4

4

1

1

1

2

1

1

1

A good balance of UK,international and NI news?

A mix of UK, international and NInews that feels relevant to me?



NI news?


Base Q14: All who use UK wide news (232)

Base Q14x: All who use BBC News Channel/BBC Breakfast on Network Radio (216)

Agree

85%

82%

85%

Q14. The BBC’s television news for Northern Ireland is provided on BBC1 alongside news for the whole UK (at 1pm,

6pm, 10pm). To what extent do you agree that these programmes taken together serve you with…

80%




Q15. Thinking about BBC Northern Ireland’s TV news, within the UK wide broadcasts, what is

your overall impression?

A majority of viewers agree that BBC Northern Ireland TV news is performing well according

to most of its main performance measures. More than eight in ten (85%) agree it is

informative and over than seven in ten (76%) say it is relevant, a similar number (75%)

believe it is of high quality. Over six in ten also feel that it is engaging (64%). However, fewer

than half of all viewers (49%) feel that is different from programmes from other providers.

Q17. BBC Northern Ireland’s television news programmes are…

Across these detailed performance measures, BBC Northern Ireland TV news generally

scores well, with no performance gaps greater than -12. Eight in ten (81%) agree that these

programmes provide accurate and up-to-date news and over seven in ten say it gives them

a better understanding of news and topical issues in Northern Ireland (76%); that it relates

national and international news to their region (76%); and that it represents Northern Ireland

(75%).


3% 6% 6% 13% 26% 22% 18%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

3%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

66%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

29%

Mean:

7.8

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Overall Impression of BBC Northern Ireland’s TV NewsQ15. Thinking about BBC N. Ireland’s TV News, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10?



BBC N. Ireland TV NewsQ17. BBC Northern Ireland’s television news programmes are…

37

34

37

24

16

48

42

38

40

33

10

17

18

26

35

3

5

5

6

10

1

2

1

2

3

1

1

1

2

2

...informative

…relevant to me

...high-quality

…engaging



Base: All who watch BBC Northern Ireland’s television news (448)

Agree

85%

76%

75%

64%

49%



Q18a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Northern Ireland’s television news… – Performance Q18b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Northern Ireland’s

television news…? – Importance

The largest performance gap recorded for BBC Northern Ireland TV news is in relation to the

provision of high quality independent news (-12). There is a moderate gap of -8 in relation to

helping viewers understand politics and decision-making in Northern Ireland, but

performance exceeds audience expectations when it comes to providing additional content

online, and on social media.

Q18a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Northern Ireland’s television news… – Performance Q18b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Northern Ireland’s

television news…? – Importance

4.7.2 BBC Northern Ireland Television Current Affairs

Six in ten viewers (60%) of BBC current affairs and political programming in Northern Ireland

have a favourable overall impression of these programmes. Fewer than four in ten (36%) are

neutral and 4% has an unfavourable impression.


81%

90%

76%

83%

76%

83%

75%

86%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC N. Ireland News (1 of 2)






topical issues in Northern Ireland


to-date news

…represents Northern Ireland

-9

-7

-7

-11

Gap




74%

86%

64%

72%

64%

55%

50%

43%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

BBC N. Ireland News (2 of 2)



Q18b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Northern Ireland News… - Importance



and Twitter


video clips

-12

-8

+9

+7



Northern Ireland

Gap

…provides high-quality,

independent news



Q19. Thinking about BBC Northern Ireland’s current affairs/political programmes on TV, what

is your overall impression?

BBC Northern Ireland’s political and current affairs programmes are seen to be performing

well by the majority of viewers. More than eight in ten say they are informative (84%) and

fewer than eight in ten say they are high quality (79%) and relevant (78%). More than three

quarters of viewer (76%) also agree that these programmes are engaging.

Q20. BBC Northern Ireland’s current affairs/political programmes are…

These programmes generally score well across their performance measures, particularly in

the provision of political analysis (no performance gap) and the coverage of important

political stories in Northern Ireland (gap of +1). There are also gaps of less than -10 points in

reflecting local issues and concerns (-8); investigating and scrutinising issues and institutions

(-7); covering a wide range of topics and subject matter (-8); giving viewers a better

understanding of topical issues in Northern Ireland (-9); and explaining complex issues (-9).


3%3% 8% 10% 15% 24% 20% 17%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

4%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

60%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

36%

Mean:

7.6

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Overall Impression of BBC N. Ireland TV Current AffairsQ19. Thinking about BBC N. Ireland’s current affairs/political programmes on TV, what is your overall impression?



BBC N. Ireland TV Current AffairsQ20. BBC Northern Ireland’s current affairs/political programmes are…

40

39

32

28

44

40

46

48

10

16

17

17

3

2

4

5

3

3

2

2

…informative

…high-quality

…relevant to me

…engaging



Agree

84%

79%

78%

76%





A slightly larger gap is recorded for programmes that are relevant to viewers (-10). The

largest performance gap in this area relates to holding decision makers to account; while

69% feels that existing programmes do this well, a larger number (88%) believes this is an

important area, creating a performance gap of -19.



4.8 BBC Northern Ireland News Online

Most users of BBC Northern Ireland News online have a positive view of the service: six in

ten users (60%) have a positive overall impression, just under four in ten (36%) are neutral

while 3% has an unfavourable view.


BBC N. Ireland Current Affairs (1 of 2)

89%

88%

83%

91%

82%

82%

81%

88%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance


Gap

-7

+1

-8

-

Q21a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Q21b. How important or unimportant is it for you personally that BBC NI’s current affairs/political programmes…?


political stories in Northern

Ireland

…investigates and scrutinises

issues and institutions

…reflects local issues and

concerns



81%

89%

79%

88%

77%

87%

77%

86%

69%

88%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

…explains complex issues

…holds decision makers in

Northern Ireland to account

…are relevant to me


Gap

-19

-8

-10

-9

-9





issues in Northern Ireland

BBC N. Ireland Current Affairs (2 of 2)Q21a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Q21b. How important or unimportant is it for you personally that BBC NI’s current affairs/political programmes…?



Q23. Thinking about BBC Northern Ireland news online, what is your overall impression on a

scale of 1 to 10?

Although desktop computers and laptops are the most common means with which people

claim to access BBC Northern Ireland news online, with claimed use by more than six in ten

(64%), smartphones are used by more than half of users (51%). Fewer than four in ten

adults (37%) say they use a tablet to access the site and two in ten (20%) say they use a

connected TV.

Q22. How do you tend to access the BBC Northern Ireland news online?

The majority of users are positive about BBC Northern Ireland news online. Over eight in ten

(85%) agree it is informative and over seven in ten say that it is relevant (77%); that it is high

quality (77%); and that it provides the right amount of news for their area (72%).


2% 7% 8% 18% 25% 20% 16%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TOTAL:

Unfavourable (1-3)

3%

TOTAL:

Favourable (8-10)

60%

TOTAL:

Neutral (4-7)

36%

Mean:

7.7

Extremely

unfavourable

Extremely

favourable

Overall Impression of BBC Northern Ireland News OnlineQ23. Thinking about BBC N. Ireland news online, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10?

Base: All who use BBC Northern Ireland news online/BBC Northern Ireland pages on the BBC news app (264)


Accessing BBC N. Ireland News onlineQ22. How do you tend to access the BBC Northern Ireland news online?


64%

51%

37%

20%

2%


Via smartphone

Via tablet


Other



Q24. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement that BBC Northern Ireland

news online…

On the more detailed performance measures, BBC Northern Ireland news online scores

well, with most performance gaps not exceeding -7. The only larger gap relates to the

provision of high quality independent news, where a performance score of 77% and an

importance score of 89% result in a performance gap of -12.

BBC Northern Ireland news online largely meets the expectations of its users when it comes

to providing up-to-date news on Northern Ireland (-5) which is relevant to the audience (-6).

Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Northern Ireland news online… – Performance Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Northern Ireland news

online…? - Importance

Comparable gaps are also recorded for providing information of local interest (-6); providing

clear links to other local media and information providers (-4); and sourcing or sharing

content with other such providers (-7).


BBC N. Ireland News OnlineQ24. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement? BBC Northern Ireland news online…

35

30

33

23

50

47

44

48

10

16

17

15

3

5

3

9

1

1

1

2

1

1

2

2

...is informative


…is high-quality


% Definitely agree % Tend to agree % Neither/nor % Tend to disagree % Definitely disagree % Don't know Agree

85%

77%

77%

72%



BBC N. Ireland News Online (1 of 2)

86%

91%

80%

86%

77%

89%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Gap

-5

-6

-12



date news about Northern

Ireland


independent news

Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC NI news online…

Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Northern Ireland news online…




Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Northern Ireland news online… – Performance Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Northern Ireland news

online…? - Importance


BBC N. Ireland News Online (2 of 2)

72%

78%

60%

64%

56%

63%

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Performance

Importance

Gap

-6

-4

-7







events




Q25a. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC NI news online…

Q25b. How important or unimportant is it to you personally that BBC Northern Ireland news online…




5. Appendices

Appendix 1: Guide to Statistical Reliability

The respondents to this research are a sample of the target audience i.e. residents of

Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. We cannot, therefore, be certain that the figures

obtained are exactly those we would have if everybody in the target audience (i.e. the entire

populations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) had been interviewed (the ‘true’

values). We can, however, predict the variation between the sample results and the ‘true’

value from knowledge of the size of the samples on which the results are based and the

number of times that a particular answer is given.

The confidence with which we can make this prediction is usually chosen to be 95% – that

is, the chances are 19 in 20 that the ‘true’ value will fall within a specified range. The table

below illustrates the predicted ranges for different sample sizes and percentage results at

the ‘95% confidence interval’2, assuming an infinite population.

Size of sample on which

survey result is based

Approximate sampling tolerances applicable to

percentages at or near these levels

Statistical reliability

10%/90% 30%/70% 50%/50%

500 interviews

(Total in each nation) 2.6% 4.0% 4.4%

250 interviews

(e.g. TV news viewers) 3.7% 5.7% 6.2%

200 interviews

(e.g. Radio listeners) 4.2% 6.4% 6.9%

For example, on a question where 50% of the people in a sample of 500 (e.g. all

respondents in Scotland) respond with a particular answer, the chances are 95 in 100 that

this result would not vary by more than 4.4 percentage points (plus or minus) from a

complete coverage of the entire population using the same procedures. However, while it is

true to conclude that the “actual” result (95 times out of 100) lies anywhere between 45.6%

and 54.4%, it is proportionately more likely to be closer to the centre of this band (i.e. at

50%).

2 It should be noted that these figures assume a simple random possibility sample design with no

design effects; in reality, with quota surveys, these are likely to occur and widen the margin of error so this should be treated as a guide.



Appendix 2: Definition of BAME

BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) is a standard definition to define those who are

from a non-white background.

This is derived from the following question in the questionnaire:

Which of these best describes your ethnic origin?

Ethnicity Code Grouping

WHITE

English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British White

Irish White

Eastern European White

Another white background White

MIXED

White and black Caribbean BAME

White and black African BAME

White and Asian BAME

Any other mixed/multiple ethnic background BAME

ASIAN

Indian BAME

Pakistani BAME

Bangladeshi BAME

Chinese BAME

BLACK

African BAME

Caribbean BAME

Another black/African/Caribbean background BAME

OTHER

Arab BAME

Another ethnic group BAME

Prefer not to say N/A



Appendix 3: Sample Profile

Data has been weighted by age, gender, ethnicity and social grade to reflect the

demographic distribution of each nation.

Sample profile – Scotland

Base: 502 Unweighted

Number Unweighted percentage

Weighted percentage

Gender Men 250 50% 51%

Women 252 50% 49%

Age 16-24 70 14% 14%

25-34 71 14% 16%

35-44 76 15% 15%

45-54 90 18% 18%

55-64 83 17% 15%

65+ 112 22% 22%

Ethnicity White 480 96% 96%

Ethnic minority/BAME 19 4% 3%

Socio-economic Grade AB 162 32% 19%

C1 143 28% 32%

C2 78 16% 22%

DE 119 24% 28%



Sample profile – Wales



Weighted percentage


Women 281 56% 49%

Age 16-24 59 12% 14%

25-34 67 13% 15%

35-44 71 14% 15%

45-54 86 17% 17%

55-64 84 17% 15%

65+ 133 27% 24%




C1 147 29% 29%

C2 61 12% 23%

DE 124 25% 30%

Sample profile – Northern Ireland



Weighted percentage


Women 298 58% 49%

Age 16-24 68 13% 14%

25-34 96 19% 17%

35-44 88 17% 17%

45-54 101 20% 18%

55-64 70 14% 14%

65+ 91 18% 20%




C1 128 25% 28%

C2 93 18% 24%

DE 128 25% 31%



Appendix 4: Marked-up questionnaire

Scotland

SECTION 1: Claimed use

Q1. Which, if any, of the following ways do you access news and information for Scotland?

MULTICODE. CATI: READ OUT.

Base: All respondents (502) %

TV (e.g. local or regional news bulletins on BBC One or ITV) 89

Internet sites, apps or blogs (not including social media) 59

Local newspapers 57

Local radio stations (e.g. BBC, commercial or community radio) 50

Social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) 44

Other sources of Scottish news 2

Q2. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use the BBC for national and Scottish news

and current affairs? MULTICODE. CATI: READ OUT.


BBC Scotland TV news (e.g. regional news bulletins on BBC One) 82

BBC Scotland news online 37

BBC Radio Scotland 28

Scotland current affairs/political programmes on TV (e.g. Scotland 2016 or part of Sunday Politics)

26

Social media (e.g. your BBC Scotland or BBC Radio Scotland on Facebook or Twitter)

23

BBC Scotland pages on the BBC News App 17

BBC Alba programming 5

BBC Radio nan Gàidheal 2

None of the above 8

Other 3

QA. Can you understand, speak, read or write Gaelic? MULTICODE


Understand spoken Gaelic 4

Speak Gaelic 2

Read Gaelic 2

Write Gaelic 2

I cannot understand any Gaelic 94



Q4. Thinking about the BBC generally, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10,

where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable? SINGLE CODE.


1 - Extremely unfavourable 6

2 2

3 5

4 5

5 7

6 8

7 16

8 23

9 13

10 - Extremely favourable 14

NET: Unfavourable (1-3) 13

NET: Neutral (4-7) 36

NET: Favourable (8-10) 50

Don’t know 1

Q5. How well does the BBC as a whole serve audiences specifically in Scotland? SINGLE

CODE


Very well 18

Quite well 44

Neither well or not well 18

Not very well 11

Not well at all 7

Don’t know 3

NET: Well 62

NET: Not well 17

Q6. Why do you not use the BBC for Scottish news and current affairs? OPEN END.

Base: All who do not use any BBC outputs (38) N3

Biased/untrustworthy style of reporting 12

Not interested/don’t watch/listen 6

Prefer another station/channel/platform 6

Regional bias/only report local news 5

Prefer another station/region 3

Dislike the presenters/style of presenting/format of presentation 3

Dislike the BBC in general/fell out with the BBC 2

News is too depressing/it’s always bad news 2

Licence fee/compulsory funding for the BBC 1

Too much money is wasted 1

Other 3

None/no real reason 4

3 Due to a small base size data are given as numbers rather than percentages.



SECTION 2: Nations Radio

Q7. Thinking about BBC Radio Scotland, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10,

where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable?

SINGLE CODE

Base: All who listen to BBC Radio Scotland (142) %


2 1

3 3

4 5

5 8

6 10

7 18

8 27

9 14





Don’t know 2

Q7a. Thinking about BBC Radio nan Gàidheal, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1

to 10, where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable? SINGLE

CODE

Base: All who listen to Radio nan Gàidheal (11) N4

1 - Extremely unfavourable -

2 -

3 -

4 -

5 4

6 1

7 4

8 1

9 2


NET: Unfavourable (1-3) -



Don’t know -




Q8. Please select all of the kinds of programming that you listen to on BBC Radio Scotland.

MULTICODE.


Breakfast news 61

Sports coverage 53

News bulletins throughout the day 51

Music programmes 38

Daytime talk and discussion programmes 30

Documentaries 22

Drama 15

Arts and culture 15

Comedy 15

Other 4

Q9. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements using the following

scale? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.

CATI: READ SCALE: READ OUT

Q10a. BBC Radio Scotland should be a speech-led service for listeners seeking programmes

about the life, culture and affairs of Scotland. In addition to local and national concerns, output

should also address matters of UK and international significance from a Scottish perspective.

BBC Radio Scotland should offer some highly targeted local programming and support for

BBC community stations.

Base: All who listen to BBC Radio Scotland (142) NET:

Agree %

Defin-itely

agree %

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree

nor dis-agree

%

Tend to dis-

agree %

Defin-itely disa-gree %

NET: Disa-gree

Don’t know

%

a) BBC Radio Scotland is informative

80 30 50 12 2 5 8 -

b) BBC Radio Scotland provides high quality programming

70 21 49 22 5 4 9 -

c) BBC Radio Scotland is distinctive compared with other radio stations

61 18 43 28 8 3 11 1

d) BBC Radio Scotland has programmes that are entertaining

60 18 42 30 6 2 9 1



You will be asked to consider a number of statements and rate how well you think BBC Radio Scotland is doing on each of these. Please consider carefully before giving your answer. To what extent to you agree or disagree with the following statements? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.


Agree %

Definitely

agree %

Tend to

agree %

Neither agree nor

disagree %

Tend to

disagree %

Definitely

disagree %

NET: Disagr

ee %

Don’t know

%

a) BBC Radio Scotland provides high quality news

74 26 48 17 7 2 9 -

b) BBC Radio Scotland gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Scotland

70 23 48 20 7 3 10 -

c) BBC Radio Scotland gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in the UK

59 16 43 27 9 5 13 1

d) BBC Radio Scotland helps me understand what's going on in the wider world, such as international news and events

57 15 43 29 8 5 12 1

e) BBC Radio Scotland has the right balance of serious and lighter news stories

58 13 45 31 6 3 9 2

f) BBC Radio Scotland helps me understand politics in Scotland

64 18 46 21 9 5 13 1

g) BBC Radio Scotland helps me understand UK-wide politics

52 11 41 31 10 6 16 -

h) BBC Radio Scotland supports arts and culture in Scotland

58 17 42 33 4 * 5 4

i) BBC Radio Scotland provides me with music I do not normally hear elsewhere

37 13 24 40 13 4 17 6

j) BBC Radio Scotland supports Scottish music

60 19 41 29 5 1 6 5

k) BBC Radio Scotland introduces me to new presenters, performers and artists from Scotland

50 12 39 38 7 1 8 4

l) BBC Radio Scotland provides coverage of a variety of sport

66 17 50 20 7 4 11 2

m) BBC Radio Scotland is good at portraying my particular culture or community to other people in Scotland

41 11 30 43 8 4 12 5

n) BBC Radio Scotland provides content and programming that caters for the population of Scotland

65 15 49 27 5 2 7 1

o) BBC Radio Scotland reflects my local interests and concerns

49 14 36 38 9 3 13 -

p) BBC Radio Scotland reflects the diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Scotland

48 16 32 37 6 2 8 6

q) When listening to BBC Radio Scotland, I hear a range of voices from around Scotland

73 22 51 20 5 * 5 1

r) BBC Radio Scotland highlights to me important social issues

58 19 40 30 8 2 10 2



Q10b. How important or unimportant is it for you personally that….? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.


Important %

Very Importa

nt %

Quite importa

nt %

Neither important nor

unimportant

%

Quite unimpo

rtant %

Very unimpo

rtant %

NET: Unimportant

%

Don’t know

%

a) BBC Radio Scotland provides high quality news

85 46 38 12 1 1 2 1

b) BBC Radio Scotland gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Scotland

82 35 47 16 1 1 2 -

c) BBC Radio Scotland gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in the UK

75 25 50 18 7 - 7 -

d) BBC Radio Scotland helps me understand what's going on in the wider world, such as international news and events

69 26 44 24 5 2 7 -

e) BBC Radio Scotland has the right balance of serious and lighter news stories

70 25 45 21 5 2 6 2

f) BBC Radio Scotland helps me understand politics in Scotland

75 30 45 19 4 2 9 -

g) BBC Radio Scotland helps me understand UK-wide politics

67 20 47 24 7 2 9 -

h) BBC Radio Scotland supports arts and culture in Scotland

57 22 34 34 7 2 9 1

i) BBC Radio Scotland provides me with music I do not normally hear elsewhere

49 14 34 34 11 7 18 -

j) BBC Radio Scotland supports Scottish music

63 22 41 41 7 3 10 -

k) BBC Radio Scotland introduces me to new presenters, performers and artists from Scotland

52 15 36 36 10 3 13 *

l) BBC Radio Scotland provides coverage of a variety of sport

60 22 38 26 5 9 14 1

m) BBC Radio Scotland is good at portraying my particular culture or community to other people in Scotland

50 15 35 42 6 - 6 2

n) BBC Radio Scotland provides content and programming that caters for the population of Scotland

78 30 48 19 2 1 3 -

o) BBC Radio Scotland reflects my local interests and concerns

72 23 49 22 4 1 5 -

p) BBC Radio Scotland reflects the diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Scotland

57 21 37 29 9 3 12 2

q) When listening to BBC Radio Scotland, I hear a range of voices from around Scotland

66 23 43 28 5 1 6 -

r) BBC Radio Scotland highlights to me important social issues

72 26 46 25 3 - 3 -




participation on BBC Radio Scotland?


Too much 9

Just right 70

Not enough 10

Don’t know 11

Q12. Thinking about BBC Radio Scotland’s website (e.g. where you can listen live, catch up on

shows you’ve missed and access clips and podcasts), what is your overall impression - on a

scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable?

SINGLE CODE.



2 2

3 -

4 1

5 6

6 7

7 12

8 16

9 6





Do not use the BBC Radio Scotland’s website 40

Did not know BBC Radio Scotland had a website 4

Section 3: Nations Television News and Current Affairs

Q13. Which, if any, of BBC Scotland’s TV news or current affairs/political programmes do you

tend to watch? Please select all that apply. MULTICODE.

Base: All who use BBC Scotland television news or current affairs (416) %

Reporting Scotland 84

UK Wide News e.g. BBC news at Six; BBC News at Ten 51

BBC News Channel 48

Politics Scotland/Sunday Politics Scotland 19

BBC Breakfast on Network Radio e.g. Radio 4’s Today Programme or Radio 5 Live

15

Scotland 2016 14

BBC Scotland Investigates 10

I don’t watch BBC Scotland’s news or current affairs programmes 5

Other 2



Q14. The BBC’s television news for Scotland is provided on BBC1 alongside news for the

whole UK (at 1pm, 6pm, 10pm). To what extent do you agree that these programmes taken

together serve you with…? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.

Base: All who use UK wide news (217)

NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree nor disagree

%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

a) High quality and trustworthy daily news

81 36 45 12 5 1 7

b) A mix of UK, international and Scottish news that feels relevant to me

79 31 47 13 8 1 9

c) A good balance of UK, international and Scottish news

80 32 48 8 10 1 11

Q14X. To what extent to you agree that [PULL THROUGH EITHER OR BOTH BBC NEWS

CHANNEL AND/OR BBC BREAKFAST ON NETWORK RADIO] provides you with a good

balance of UK, international and Scottish news? SINGLE CODE.

Base: All who watch BBC News Channel or BBC Breakfast on Network Radio (219)

%

Definitely agree 22

Tend to agree 53

Neither agree nor disagree 13

Tend to disagree 9

Definitely disagree 2

Don’t know 2

NET: Agree 75

NET: Disagree 10

Q15. Thinking about BBC Scotland’s TV News within the UK wide broadcasts at 1pm, 6pm and

10pm, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means extremely

unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable? SINGLE CODE.

Base: All who watch UK-wide news (217) %


2 -

3 2

4 4

5 7

6 7

7 15

8 30

9 13


NET: Unfavourable (1 to 3) 3

NET: Neutral (4 to 7) 33

NET: Favourable (8 to 10) 64

Don’t know *



Q16a. Thinking about BBC Alba, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1

means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable? SINGLE CODE.

Base: All respondents who watch BBC Alba (24) N5


2 -

3 -

4 4

5 3

6 3

7 3

8 5

9 3


NET: Unfavourable (1 to 3) -



Don’t know 1

Q16b. Do you feel that there is enough Gaelic language programming on BBC Alba? SINGLE CODE.

Base: All who watch BBC Alba (24) N6

There is enough Gaelic language programming on BBC Alba 12

There is not enough Gaelic language programming on BBC Alba 7

There is too much Gaelic language programming on BBC Alba 3

Don’t know 4

Q17. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding BBC

Scotland’s television news? BBC Scotland’s television news programmes are…?

SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.


NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree

nor disagree

%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%

… informative 81 30 51 12 5 1 6 1

… high quality 69 26 43 21 6 2 8 2

… different from other providers

40 13 27 41 13 3 16 3

… relevant to me 71 23 49 19 6 1 7 3

… engaging 64 19 45 25 7 2 10 2

5 Due to a small base size data are given as numbers rather than percentages. 6 Due to a small base size data are given as numbers rather than percentages.



Q18a. You will be asked to consider a number of statements and rate how well you think BBC

Scotland News is doing on each of these. Please consider carefully before giving your answer. To

what extent to you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Scotland News…?



NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree

nor disagree

%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%

a) ... provides high quality, independent news

71 24 46 18 6 4 10 2

b) … provides accurate and up-to-date news

76 28 48 16 4 2 6 2

c) ... helps me understand politics and decision-making in Scotland

64 18 46 22 8 4 13 2

d) ... gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Scotland

70 23 47 21 5 2 7 2

e) … relates national and international news to my region

66 19 47 19 9 4 12 2

f) … represents Scotland

70 23 48 16 8 4 12 2

g) … provides additional content on social media such as Facebook and Twitter

37 13 25 19 4 2 6 38

h) … provides content online e.g. Video clips

51 15 35 21 4 2 5 23



Q18b. How important or unimportant is it for you personally that… ? SINGLE CODE FOR

EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.


NET: Important

%

Very important

%

Quite important

%

Neither important

nor unimporta

nt %

Quite unimporta

nt %

Very unimporta

nt %

NET: Unimport

ant %

Don’t know

%


86 46 39 11 1 1 3 1


88 52 36 9 1 1 2 1

c) ... helps me understand politics and decision-making in Scotland

77 33 44 18 3 2 5 1

d) ... gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Scotland

82 40 43 14 1 2 3 1


80 35 45 15 2 1 4 1

f) … represents Scotland

84 44 39 12 2 2 4 1


32 9 23 27 10 22 32 10


37 11 26 34 10 12 22 6

Q19. Thinking about the BBC Scotland’s current affairs/political programmes on TV, what is

your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10

means extremely favourable? SINGLE CODE.

Base: All who watch BBC Current Affairs programming (135) %


2 -

3 3

4 3

5 8

6 4

7 25

8 25

9 10


Don’t know 2






Q20. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Scotland’s

current affairs/political programmes…? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.

Base: All who watch BBC Current Affairs programming (135)

NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%


%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%

a) … are informative 78 34 44 10 4 6 10 2

b) … are high quality 72 28 44 13 6 7 13 2

c) … are relevant to me 70 23 48 17 6 5 11 2

d) … are engaging 68 25 43 17 6 7 13 2

Q21a. You will now be asked to consider a number of statements and rate how well you think

the BBC Scotland’s current affairs/political programming is doing on each of these. Please

consider carefully before giving your answer. To what extent to you agree or disagree with the

following statements? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.

BBC Scotland’s current affairs/political programmes


NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%


%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%

a) ... covers a wide range of topics and subject matter

82 29 53 9 4 5 9 *

b) …are relevant to me 71 21 51 15 6 7 14 *

c) ... gives me a better understanding of topical issues in Scotland

72 24 48 13 7 6 14 1

d) ... explains complex issues

70 20 50 14 5 9 14 1

e) ... holds decision makers in Scotland to account

60 17 42 22 9 6 15 3

f) ... investigates and scrutinises issues and institutions

70 19 50 18 5 5 11 1

g) … reflects local issues and concerns

65 18 47 20 7 7 14 1

h) … covers the important political stories in Scotland

77 34 43 12 6 5 11 *

i) … provides political analysis

80 30 50 11 2 6 8 *



Q21b. How important or unimportant is it for you personally that….? SINGLE CODE FOR


BBC Scotland’s current affairs/political programmes


NET: Important

%

Very important

%

Quite important

%

Neither important

nor unimporta

nt %

Quite unimporta

nt %

Very unimporta

nt %

NET: Unimport

ant %

Don’t know

%


83 50 33 11 3 3 6 *

b) …are relevant to me

81 45 36 12 3 3 6 *

c) ... gives me a better understanding of topical issues in Scotland

86 45 41 8 1 5 6 *


84 49 35 11 1 4 5 *

e) ... holds decision makers in Scotland to account

81 56 25 12 4 3 7 *


87 53 34 8 3 2 5 *


87 45 42 6 4 3 7 *

h) … covers the important political stories in Scotland

90 56 33 6 1 3 4 *


86 49 37 10 * 4 4 *



Section 4: BBC Scotland News Online

Q22. How do you tend to access the BBC Scotland news online? MULTICODE.

Base: All who use BBC Scotland online (221) %

Via desktop computer/ laptop 74

Via smartphone 47

Via tablet 30

Through a connected TV 12

Other *

Q23. Thinking about the BBC Scotland news online, what is your overall impression on a scale

of 1 to 10, where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable?

SINGLE CODE.

Base: All who use BBC Scotland online (221) %


2 1

3 2

4 5

5 8

6 7

7 19

8 34

9 12





Don’t know 2

Q24. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH.

ROTATE STARTING POINT.


Base: All who use BBC Scotland online (221)

NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%


%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%

a) … is informative 82 30 51 12 3 1 5 2

b) … is relevant to me

74 25 49 16 6 2 8 2

c) … is high quality 70 29 41 21 5 2 7 2

d) … provides the right amount of news for my area

62 18 44 20 12 4 16 2



Q25a. The BBC has a duty to ‘inform, educate and entertain’ the UK public in return for the

licence fee that is charged.

BBC Scotland news online has commitments with regards to the news it provides for your

area. You will be asked to consider a number of statements and rate how well you think BBC

Scotland online is doing on each of these. Please consider carefully before giving your

answer. To what extent to you agree or disagree with the following statements? SINGLE CODE

FOR EACH. RANDOMISE STARTING POINT.


Base: All who use BBC Scotland online (221)

NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree nor

disagree %

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagre

e %

Don’t know

%

a) … provides high quality, independent news

69 25 44 20 5 4 9 2

b) … provides me with up to date news about Scotland

78 24 54 14 4 1 6 2

c) …is relevant to me

72 25 47 20 4 1 6 2

d) … provides information of local interests, such as sport, culture/arts and events

66 18 48 22 5 2 7 5

e) … sources or shares content with other providers of local information

50 16 34 25 7 2 9 16

f) … provides clear links to other local media and information providers

51 14 37 26 9 3 12 11



Q25b. How important or unimportant is it for you personally that…? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH.

RANDOMISE STARTING POINT.


Base: All who use BBC Scotland online (221) NET:

Important %

Very importa

nt %

Quite importa

nt %


unimportant %

Quite unimpor

tant %

Very unimpor

tant %

NET: Unimportant

%

Don’t know

%


91 57 34 7 - 1 1 1

b) … provides me with up to date news about Scotland

92 51 41 6 1 1 1 1

c) …is relevant to me 86 47 39 12 1 - 1 1


78 30 48 15 4 2 6 1


61 21 40 23 8 4 12 3


58 19 39 29 8 3 11 2



Wales


Q1. Which, if any, of the following ways do you access news and information for Wales?

MULTICODE. CATI: READ OUT.



Local newspapers 55




Other sources of Welsh news 3

Q2. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use the BBC for UK and Welsh news and

current affairs? MULTICODE. CATI: READ OUT.


BBC Wales TV news (e.g. regional news bulletins on BBC One) 83

BBC Wales news online 36

Wales current affairs/political programmes on TV 35

BBC Radio Wales 27

Social media (e.g. your BBC Wales or BBC Radio Wales/Cymru on Facebook or Twitter)

23

BBC Wales pages on the BBC News App 15

BBC Radio Cymru 12

None of the above 7

Other 2







2 1

3 3

4 3

5 9

6 7

7 16

8 26

9 19





Don’t know *

Q5. How well does the BBC as a whole serve audiences specifically in Wales? SINGLE CODE


Very well 24

Quite well 48


Not very well 4

Not well at all 3

Don’t know 5

NET: Well 72

NET: Not well 7

Q6. Why do you not use the BBC for Welsh news and current affairs? OPEN END.





Regional bias/only report local news 3

Prefer online 3


Prefer another station/region 2

Too much money is wasted 2

Dislike the BBC in general/fell out with the BBC *

Other 5

None/no real reason 8





Q7. Thinking about BBC Radio Wales, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10,

where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable?

SINGLE CODE

Base: All who listen to BBC Radio Wales (131) %

1 - Extremely unfavourable *

2 -

3 -

4 *

5 4

6 8

7 24

8 32

9 11


NET: Unfavourable (1-3) *



Don’t know 1

Q7a. Thinking about BBC Radio Cymru, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10,

where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable? SINGLE CODE

Base: All who listen to Radio Cymru (58) N8


2 -

3 2

4 -

5 1

6 16

7 20

8 22

9 18





Don’t know 2




Q8. Please select all of the kinds of programming that you listen to on BBC Radio Wales.

MULTICODE.



Breakfast news 66


Sports coverage 44

Music programmes 43

Comedy 26

Documentaries 24

Drama 24

Arts and culture 20

Other 4




Base: All who listen to BBC Radio Wales (131) NET:

Agree %

Defin-itely

agree %

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree

nor dis-agree

%

Tend to dis-

agree %


NET: Disa-gree

Don’t know

%

a) BBC Radio Wales is informative

88 49 39 9 1 1 3 -

b) BBC Radio Wales provides high quality programming

84 37 48 10 4 2 5 1

c) BBC Radio Wales is distinctive compared with other radio stations

73 37 36 23 4 * 4 *

d) BBC Radio Wales has programmes that are entertaining

83 37 45 14 1 2 3 1



Q10a. BBC Radio Wales should be a speech-led service for listeners seeking programmes about the life, culture and affairs of Wales. In addition to local and national concerns, output should also address matters of UK and international significance from a Wels perspective. BBC Radio Wales should offer some highly targeted local programming and support for BBC community stations. You will be asked to consider a number of statements and rate how well you think BBC Radio Wales is doing on each of these. Please consider carefully before giving your answer. To what extent to you agree or disagree with the following statements? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.


NET: Agree

%

Definitely

agree %

Tend to

agree %

Neither agree nor

disagree %

Tend to

disagree %

Definitely

disagree %

NET: Disagr

ee %

Don’t know

%

a) BBC Radio Wales provides high quality news

89 49 40 10 1 - 1 -

b) BBC Radio Wales gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Wales

86 44 43 11 2 1 3 -

c) BBC Radio Wales gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in the UK

80 38 42 19 1 * 2 -

d) BBC Radio Wales helps me understand what's going on in the wider world, such as international news and events

78 33 45 16 4 1 5 1

e) BBC Radio Wales has the right balance of serious and lighter news stories

83 40 43 10 1 2 3 3

f) BBC Radio Wales helps me understand politics in Wales

74 45 30 19 2 1 4 3

g) BBC Radio Wales helps me understand UK-wide politics

69 35 34 21 3 2 6 4

h) BBC Radio Wales supports arts and culture in Wales

76 35 41 13 4 2 6 5

i) BBC Radio Wales supports Welsh music 74 38 36 15 6 1 7 4

j) BBC Radio Wales introduces me to new presenters, performers and artists from Wales

75 35 40 19 2 1 4 3

k) BBC Radio Wales provides coverage of a variety of sport

77 41 36 13 2 1 3 7

l) BBC Radio Wales is good at portraying my particular culture or community to other people in Wales

67 32 35 23 4 2 5 5

m) BBC Radio Wales provides content and programming that caters for the population of Wales

85 41 44 10 2 * 2 2

n) BBC Radio Wales reflects my local interests and concerns

77 37 40 16 4 2 6 -

o) BBC Radio Wales reflects the diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Wales

65 31 34 27 4 2 6 2

p) When listening to BBC Radio Wales, I hear a range of voices from around Wales

79 41 38 12 6 2 9 1

q) BBC Radio Wales highlights to me important social issues

84 33 51 10 4 * 5 1




Base: All who listen to BBC Radio Wales (131) NET:

Important %

Very Importa

nt %

Quite importa

nt %


unimportant

%

Quite unimpo

rtant %

Very unimpo

rtant %

NET: Unimportant

%

Don’t know

%

a) BBC Radio Wales provides high quality news

89 51 38 9 2 * 2 *

b) BBC Radio Wales gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Wales

85 51 34 12 2 * 2 *

c) BBC Radio Wales gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in the UK

84 36 48 13 3 * 3 *

d) BBC Radio Wales helps me understand what's going on in the wider world, such as international news and events

83 41 41 10 4 1 5 3

e) BBC Radio Wales has the right balance of serious and lighter news stories

85 40 45 13 1 - 1 2

f) BBC Radio Wales helps me understand politics in Wales

78 40 38 17 2 3 5 *

g) BBC Radio Wales helps me understand UK-wide politics

74 31 43 19 3 4 6 *

h) BBC Radio Wales supports arts and culture in Wales

71 38 32 23 2 2 5 2

i) BBC Radio Wales supports Welsh music

79 50 29 14 3 2 5 2

j) BBC Radio Wales introduces me to new presenters, performers and artists from Wales

74 38 35 21 3 1 4 1

k) BBC Radio Wales provides coverage of a variety of sport

68 37 31 18 9 5 13 1

l) BBC Radio Wales is good at portraying my particular culture or community to other people in Wales

78 39 39 14 5 2 6 2

m) BBC Radio Wales provides content and programming that caters for the population of Wales

84 48 35 14 2 - 2 *

n) BBC Radio Wales reflects my local interests and concerns

82 44 38 12 3 2 5 1

o) BBC Radio Wales reflects the diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Wales

71 41 30 19 6 2 7 2

p) When listening to BBC Radio Wales, I hear a range of voices from around Wales

77 41 36 15 6 - 6 2

q) BBC Radio Wales highlights to me important social issues

84 39 44 14 2 - 2 *




participation on BBC Radio Wales?


Too much 6

Just right 70

Not enough 16

Don’t know 8

Q12. Thinking about BBC Radio Wales’s website (e.g. where you can listen live, catch up on

shows you’ve missed and access clips and podcasts), what is your overall impression - on a

scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable?

SINGLE CODE.



2 -

3 *

4 *

5 2

6 3

7 13

8 13

9 7





Do not use the BBC Radio Wales’s website 39

Did not know BBC Radio Wales had a website 5


Q13. Which, if any, of BBC Wales’s TV news or current affairs/political programmes do you tend

to watch? Please select all that apply. MULTICODE.

Base: All who use BBC Wales television news or current affairs (431) %

Wales Today 70


BBC News Channel 57

Week In Week Out 30

The Wales Report 23


22

Sunday Politics Wales 12

I don’t watch BBC Wales’s news or current affairs programmes 5

Other 5



Q14. The BBC’s television news for Wales is provided on BBC1 alongside news for the whole

UK (at 1pm, 6pm, 10pm). To what extent do you agree that these programmes taken together

serve you with…? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.


NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%


%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%


89 43 46 8 3 * 3

b) A mix of UK, international and Welsh news that feels relevant to me

81 38 43 12 7 - 7

c) A good balance of UK, international and Welsh news

83 35 48 11 5 - 5



balance of UK, international and Welsh news? SINGLE CODE.


%

Definitely agree 31

Tend to agree 44


Tend to disagree 5


Don’t know 1

NET: Agree 76

NET: Disagree 8

Q15. Thinking about BBC Wales’s TV News within the UK wide broadcasts at 1pm, 6pm and

10pm, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means extremely




2 *

3 1

4 1

5 4

6 7

7 21

8 31

9 14





Don’t know *




Wales’s television news? BBC Wales’s television news programmes are…?



NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree

nor disagree

%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%

… informative 82 37 45 13 3 1 3 1

… high quality 75 35 41 17 5 1 6 1


51 22 30 34 8 2 10 4

… relevant to me 72 28 44 19 6 2 8 1

… engaging 68 24 44 22 6 2 8 2


Wales News is doing on each of these. Please consider carefully before giving your answer. To

what extent to you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Wales News…? SINGLE

CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.


NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree

nor disagree

%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%


75 32 43 17 4 1 6 3


82 34 48 12 3 * 3 3

c) ... helps me understand politics and decision-making in Wales

67 22 45 21 7 3 10 3

d) ... gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Wales

77 30 47 17 2 1 3 3


71 25 46 16 7 3 10 3

f) … represents Wales

77 35 42 14 5 1 6 3


38 15 23 19 3 1 4 40


52 20 32 22 2 * 3 23






NET: Important

%

Very important

%

Quite important

%

Neither important

nor unimporta

nt %

Quite unimporta

nt %

Very unimporta

nt %

NET: Unimport

ant %

Don’t know

%


86 52 34 12 * 1 1 2


88 54 34 9 1 * 1 2

c) ... helps me understand politics and decision-making in Wales

77 34 43 16 4 2 5 2

d) ... gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Wales

83 36 46 13 2 1 3 2


81 37 44 15 2 1 3 2

f) … represents Wales 81 49 32 15 1 1 2 2


33 13 20 28 8 18 26 13


43 16 27 33 7 8 16 9

Q19. Thinking about the BBC Wales’s current affairs/political programmes on TV, what is your

overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means

extremely favourable? SINGLE CODE.



2 -

3 -

4 3

5 5

6 9

7 18

8 31

9 14


Don’t know 1






Q20. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Wales’s

current affairs/political programmes…? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.


NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%


%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%


b) … are high quality 82 34 47 14 1 1 2 1

c) … are relevant to me 75 31 44 16 4 1 6 3

d) … are engaging 75 29 46 14 7 2 8 3


the BBC Wales’s current affairs/political programming is doing on each of these. Please

consider carefully before giving your answer. To what extent to you agree or disagree with the

following statements? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.

BBC Wales’s current affairs/political programmes


NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%


%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%


77 33 44 12 6 2 8 3

b) …are relevant to me 72 33 39 16 7 1 9 2

c) ... gives me a better understanding of topical issues in Wales

81 33 48 10 4 2 6 3


71 25 46 19 3 4 7 2

e) ... holds decision makers in Wales to account

65 27 38 21 9 3 12 2


79 37 42 14 4 1 5 2


78 29 50 11 8 2 9 2

h) … covers the important political stories in Wales

83 45 38 11 3 1 4 2


75 35 40 14 6 1 7 4





BBC Wales’s current affairs/political programmes


NET: Important

%

Very important

%

Quite important

%

Neither important

nor unimporta

nt %

Quite unimporta

nt %

Very unimporta

nt %

NET: Unimport

ant %

Don’t know

%


91 56 35 6 2 - 2 1


87 49 37 11 1 * 2 1

c) ... gives me a better understanding of topical issues in Wales

92 52 40 6 1 - 1 1


87 46 41 11 1 * 1 1

e) ... holds decision makers in Wales to account

88 54 35 10 1 - 1 1


92 53 39 7 1 - 1 1


90 55 35 9 - - - 1

h) … covers the important political stories in Wales

88 57 31 8 3 - 3 1


83 46 37 14 1 2 3 1



Section 4: BBC Wales News Online

Q22. How do you tend to access the BBC Wales news online? MULTICODE.

Base: All who use BBC Wales online (215) %


Via smartphone 39

Via tablet 35


Other 1

Q23. Thinking about the BBC Wales news online, what is your overall impression on a scale of

1 to 10, where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable? SINGLE

CODE.

Base: All who use BBC Wales online (215) %


2 -

3 1

4 1

5 5

6 9

7 22

8 31

9 17





Don’t know 1




Base: All who use BBC Wales online (215)

NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%


%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%

a) … is informative 91 43 48 7 1 * 1 *


83 35 48 15 1 * 2 *

c) … is high quality 81 43 39 15 2 * 3 *


71 31 40 17 9 3 11 1





BBC Wales news online has commitments with regards to the news it provides for your area.

You will be asked to consider a number of statements and rate how well you think BBC Wales

online is doing on each of these. Please consider carefully before giving your answer. To what

extent to you agree or disagree with the following statements? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH.



Base: All who use BBC Wales online (215)

NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree nor

disagree %

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagre

e %

Don’t know

%


82 37 44 14 1 1 3 1

b) … provides me with up to date news about Wales

89 40 49 8 1 1 2 1


79 36 43 17 3 1 3 1


79 33 46 13 5 2 6 2


65 25 40 19 1 3 5 11


66 23 42 20 2 4 6 8






Base: All who use BBC Wales online (215) NET:

Important %

Very importa

nt %

Quite importa

nt %


unimportant %

Quite unimpor

tant %

Very unimpor

tant %

NET: Unimportant

%

Don’t know

%

g) … provides high quality, independent news

90 63 27 9 * - * 1

h) … provides me with up to date news about Wales

90 65 26 8 1 - 1 1

i) …is relevant to me 85 47 39 12 1 * 1 1

j) … provides information of local interests, such as sport, culture/arts and events

83 43 40 14 1 1 2 1

k) … sources or shares content with other providers of local information

70 31 39 20 6 2 8 2

l) … provides clear links to other local media and information providers

69 30 39 21 5 3 7 2



Northern Ireland


Q1. Which, if any, of the following ways do you access news and information for Northern

Ireland? MULTICODE. CATI: READ OUT.




Local newspapers 58



Other sources of Northern Irish news 2

Q2. Which, if any, of the following ways do you use the BBC for national and Northern Irish

news and current affairs? MULTICODE. CATI: READ OUT.


BBC Northern Ireland TV news (e.g. regional news bulletins on BBC One) 86

BBC Northern Ireland news online 45

Northern Ireland current affairs/political programmes on TV 44

BBC Radio Ulster 37

Social media (e.g. your BBC Northern Ireland or BBC Radio Ulster Foyle on Facebook or Twitter)

31

BBC Northern Ireland pages on the BBC News App 17

BBC Radio Foyle 9

None of the above 4

Other 3





2 2

3 2

4 5

5 11

6 6

7 13

8 25

9 16





Don’t know 1

Q5. How well does the BBC as a whole serve audiences specifically in Northern Ireland?

SINGLE CODE




Very well 25

Quite well 51


Not very well 7

Not well at all 4

Don’t know 2

NET: Well 76

NET: Not well 11

Q6. Why do you not use the BBC for Northern Irish news and current affairs? OPEN END.





Licence fee/compulsory funding for the BBC 3

Dislike the BBC in general/fell out with the BBC 2


Other 2





Q7. Thinking about BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to

10, where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable?

SINGLE CODE

Base: All who listen to BBC Radio Ulster Foyle (194) %


2 2

3 2

4 3

5 9

6 10

7 18

8 24

9 15





Q8. Please select all of the kinds of programming that you listen to on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle.

MULTICODE.



Breakfast news 64


Music programmes 42

Sports coverage 31

Comedy 28

Documentaries 22

Arts and culture 17

Drama 12

Other 5






Q10a. BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle should be a speech-led service for listeners seeking programmes about the life, culture and affairs of Northern Ireland. In addition to local and national concerns, output should also address matters of UK and international significance from a Northern Ireland perspective. BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle should offer some highly targeted local programming and support for BBC community stations. You will be asked to consider a number of statements and rate how well you think BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle is doing on each of these. Please consider carefully before giving your answer. To what extent to you agree or disagree with the following statements? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.

Base: All who listen to BBC Radio Ulster Foyle (194) NET:

Agree %

Definitely

agree %

Tend to

agree %

Neither agree nor

disagree %

Tend to

disagree %

Definitely

disagree %

NET: Disagr

ee %

Don’t know

%

a) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle provides high quality news

82 44 39 13 3 2 5 -

b) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Northern Ireland

81 39 41 13 6 * 6 1

c) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in the UK

60 24 36 27 10 1 11 1

d) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle helps me understand what's going on in the wider world, such as international news and events

57 22 35 28 13 2 15 *

e) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle has the right balance of serious and lighter news stories

67 30 38 23 7 1 8 1

f) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle helps me understand politics in Northern Ireland

69 31 38 19 4 5 9 3

g) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle helps me understand UK-wide politics

50 12 38 33 10 4 15 2

h) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle supports arts and 65 22 43 27 4 1 5 3


Agree %

Defin-itely

agree %

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree

nor dis-agree

%

Tend to dis-

agree %


NET: Disa-gree

Don’t know

%

a) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle is informative

87 37 49 10 2 * 2 1

b) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle provides high quality programming

76 32 44 17 5 2 6 *

c) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle is distinctive compared with other radio stations

75 30 45 20 4 1 4 1

d) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle has programmes that are entertaining

73 30 43 18 6 1 7 2



culture in Northern Ireland

i) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle supports Northern Irish music

70 28 42 23 4 1 5 1

j) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle introduces me to new presenters, performers and artists from Northern Ireland

67 23 43 23 7 2 8 2

k) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle provides coverage of a variety of sport

69 58 74 65 68 83 76 69

l) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle is good at portraying my particular culture or community to other people in Northern Ireland

24 22 30 22 23 37 31 24

m) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle provides content and programming that caters for the population of Northern Ireland

45 36 44 43 44 46 45 45

n) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle reflects my local interests and concerns

18 25 21 23 23 13 19 18

o) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle reflects the diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Northern Ireland

6 11 3 9 6 2 4 6

p) When listening to BBC Ulster Foyle, I hear a range of voices from around Northern Ireland

* 2 1 2 2 1 2 *

q) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle highlights to me important social issues

6 14 4 11 7 3 5 6



Important %

Very Importa

nt %

Quite importa

nt %


unimportant

%

Quite unimpo

rtant %

Very unimpo

rtant %

NET: Unimportant

%

Don’t know

%

a) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle provides high quality news

90 55 35 8 2 - 2 *

b) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Northern Ireland

85 46 38 14 1 - 1 *

c) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in the UK

71 32 39 21 6 1 7 1

d) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle helps me understand what's going on in the wider world, such as international news and events

67 30 37 24 6 3 9 *

e) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle has the right balance of serious and lighter news stories

74 31 42 23 2 1 3 *

f) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle helps me understand politics in Northern Ireland

70 35 35 20 4 3 7 2

g) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle helps me understand UK-wide politics

60 24 36 31 3 5 8 1

h) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle supports arts and culture in Northern Ireland

67 34 33 22 5 3 8 2

i) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle supports 67 33 34 20 9 3 12 1



Northern Irish music

j) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle introduces me to new presenters, performers and artists from Northern Ireland

64 29 34 22 8 4 12 1

k) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle provides coverage of a variety of sport

55 26 29 25 9 9 18 2

l) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle is good at portraying my particular culture or community to other people in Northern Ireland

67 28 39 26 6 1 7 *

m) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle provides content and programming that caters for the population of Northern Ireland

79 39 40 15 3 1 5 *

n) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle reflects my local interests and concerns

82 39 42 15 1 1 2 1

o) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle reflects the diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Northern Ireland

68 34 34 20 6 5 11 1

p) When listening to BBC Ulster Foyle, I hear a range of voices from around Northern Ireland

69 31 38 25 4 1 6 *

q) BBC Radio Ulster Foyle highlights to me important social issues

80 37 42 16 4 1 4 *


participation on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle?


Too much 12

Just right 71

Not enough 10

Don’t know 7

Q12. Thinking about BBC Radio Ulster Foyle’s website (e.g. where you can listen live, catch up

on shows you’ve missed and access clips and podcasts), what is your overall impression - on

a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable?

SINGLE CODE.



2 1

3 1

4 1

5 6

6 7

7 12

8 13

9 8





Do not use the BBC Radio Ulster Foyle’s website 40

Did not know BBC Radio Ulster Foyle had a website 3




Q13. Which, if any, of BBC Northern Ireland’s TV news or current affairs/political programmes

do you tend to watch? Please select all that apply. MULTICODE.

Base: All who use BBC Northern Ireland television news or current affairs (458)

%

BBC Newsline 79


Spotlight 51

BBC News Channel 41


20

The View 19

Stormont Today 12

Sunday Politics 11

Other 5

I don’t watch BBC Northern Ireland’s news or current affairs programmes 4

Q14. The BBC’s television news for Northern Ireland is provided on BBC1 alongside news for

the whole UK (at 1pm, 6pm, 10pm). To what extent do you agree that these programmes taken

together serve you with…? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.


NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%


%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%


82 44 38 11 4 1 5

b) A mix of UK, international and Northern Irish news that feels relevant to me

85 41 44 10 4 1 5

c) A good balance of UK, international and Northern Irish news

85 45 40 10 4 1 4



balance of UK, international and Northern Ireland news? SINGLE CODE.


%

Definitely agree 34

Tend to agree 46


Tend to disagree 4


Don’t know *

NET: Agree 80



NET: Disagree 7

Q15. Thinking about BBC Northern Ireland’s TV News within the UK wide broadcasts at 1pm,

6pm and 10pm, what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means extremely




2 2

3 1

4 3

5 6

6 6

7 13

8 26

9 22





Don’t know 1


Northern Ireland’s television news? BBC Northern Ireland’s television news programmes

are…?



NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree

nor disagree

%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%

… informative 85 37 48 10 3 1 4 1

… high quality 75 37 38 18 5 1 6 1


49 16 33 35 10 3 13 2

… relevant to me 76 34 42 17 5 2 6 1

… engaging 64 24 40 26 6 2 8 2




Northern Ireland News is doing on each of these. Please consider carefully before giving your

answer. To what extent to you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Northern

Ireland News…? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.


NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree

nor disagree

%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%


74 32 42 17 5 3 8 1


81 40 41 15 2 1 3 1

c) ... helps me understand politics and decision-making in Northern Ireland

64 24 39 21 7 6 13 2

d) ... gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Northern Ireland

76 34 42 16 4 2 6 1


76 27 50 16 5 2 7 1

f) … represents Northern Ireland

75 34 42 17 5 1 6 1


50 19 31 18 2 1 3 29


64 24 39 16 2 * 2 18






NET: Important

%

Very important

%

Quite important

%

Neither important

nor unimporta

nt %

Quite unimporta

nt %

Very unimporta

nt %

NET: Unimport

ant %

Don’t know

%


86 55 31 12 1 1 2 1


90 62 28 8 1 * 2 1

c) ... helps me understand politics and decision-making in Northern Ireland

72 37 36 18 5 5 9 1

d) ... gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Northern Ireland

83 46 37 13 2 1 3 1


83 44 39 13 3 1 4 *

f) … represents Northern Ireland

86 56 30 11 1 1 3 1


43 19 24 24 10 13 23 10


55 19 36 22 9 7 16 8

Q19. Thinking about the BBC Northern Ireland’s current affairs/political programmes on TV,

what is your overall impression on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means extremely unfavourable

and 10 means extremely favourable? SINGLE CODE.



2 1

3 3

4 3

5 8

6 10

7 15

8 24

9 20


Don’t know *






Q20. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? BBC Northern

Ireland’s current affairs/political programmes…? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE

STARTING POINT.


NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%


%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%


b) … are high quality 79 39 40 16 2 3 5 -

c) … are relevant to me 78 32 46 17 4 2 6 -

d) … are engaging 76 28 48 17 5 2 7 *


the BBC Northern Ireland’s current affairs/political programming is doing on each of these.

Please consider carefully before giving your answer. To what extent to you agree or disagree

with the following statements? SINGLE CODE FOR EACH. ROTATE STARTING POINT.

BBC Northern Ireland’s current affairs/political programmes


NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%


%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%


81 37 43 12 6 1 7 *

b) …are relevant to me 77 33 44 15 6 2 8 *

c) ... gives me a better understanding of topical issues in Northern Ireland

79 36 43 12 6 3 9 1


77 31 45 14 6 2 8 1

e) ... holds decision makers in Northern Ireland to account

69 28 41 15 12 3 15 1


81 39 42 11 5 3 8 *


83 41 42 11 3 2 5 2

h) … covers the important political stories in Northern Ireland

89 43 46 9 2 * 2 *


82 39 43 11 4 1 5 1





BBC Northern Ireland’s current affairs/political programmes


NET: Important

%

Very important

%

Quite important

%

Neither important

nor unimporta

nt %

Quite unimporta

nt %

Very unimporta

nt %

NET: Unimport

ant %

Don’t know

%


89 51 38 8 2 1 3 -


87 46 41 10 2 1 3 -

c) ... gives me a better understanding of topical issues in Northern Ireland

88 52 37 9 2 1 3 -


86 51 35 9 3 2 4 *

e) ... holds decision makers in Northern Ireland to account

88 57 31 8 2 1 3 *


88 52 35 8 2 2 3 1


91 60 30 7 1 2 2 *

h) … covers the important political stories in Northern Ireland

88 57 31 9 2 1 3 -


82 45 36 13 2 3 5 1



Section 4: BBC Northern Ireland News Online

Q22. How do you tend to access the BBC Northern Ireland news online? MULTICODE.

Base: All who use BBC Northern Ireland online (264) %


Via smartphone 51

Via tablet 37


Other 2

Q23. Thinking about the BBC Northern Ireland news online, what is your overall impression on

a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means extremely unfavourable and 10 means extremely favourable?

SINGLE CODE.

Base: All who use BBC Northern Ireland online (264) %


2 1

3 1

4 2

5 7

6 8

7 18

8 25

9 20





Don’t know 2




Base: All who use BBC Northern Ireland online (264)

NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%


%

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagree

%

Don’t know

%

a) … is informative 85 35 50 10 3 1 3 1


77 30 47 16 5 1 6 1

c) … is high quality 77 33 44 17 3 1 4 2


72 23 48 15 9 2 11 2





BBC Northern Ireland news online has commitments with regards to the news it provides for

your area. You will be asked to consider a number of statements and rate how well you think

BBC Northern Ireland online is doing on each of these. Please consider carefully before giving

your answer. To what extent to you agree or disagree with the following statements? SINGLE

CODE FOR EACH. RANDOMISE STARTING POINT.


Base: All who use BBC Northern Ireland online (264)

NET: Agree

%

Definitely agree

%

Tend to agree

%

Neither agree nor

disagree %

Tend to disagree

%

Definitely disagree

%

NET: Disagre

e %

Don’t know

%


77 34 42 15 3 2 6 3

b) … provides me with up to date news about Northern Ireland

86 42 44 10 1 1 2 2


80 31 48 14 4 1 4 2


72 27 45 17 5 1 5 5


56 19 37 26 4 - 4 15


60 18 43 23 9 1 9 7






Base: All who use BBC Northern Ireland online (264) NET:

Important %

Very importa

nt %

Quite importa

nt %


unimportant %

Quite unimpor

tant %

Very unimpor

tant %

NET: Unimportant

%

Don’t know

%


89 54 35 7 2 * 2 2

b) … provides me with up to date news about Northern Ireland

91 57 34 6 2 * 2 2

c) …is relevant to me 86 42 44 11 2 1 2 1


78 32 46 14 4 1 5 3


63 24 40 26 5 * 5 5


64 23 42 25 7 1 7 4



Appendix 6: Differences in claimed radio listening by age

When analysing this data, the small base sizes must be taken into account as few of the

apparent differences are statistically significant. For example, when comparing 16-34s and

35-54s in Scotland, the bases of 35 and 48 mean that responses need to differ by around 20

percentage points to be considered statistically significant at the 95% confidence interval.

For more on statistical reliability, see Appendix 2.

Scotland Those aged 35-54 frequently express the most positive and favourable views.

Older listeners in Scotland are more frequently dissatisfied, with those aged 55+

generally giving the lowest scores.

Scotland (Radio listeners: 142) 16-34 (n=35)

35-54 (n=48)

55+ (n=59)

Q7. Radio Scotland: % Favourable 56% 46% 56%

Q8. Listen to: news bulletins 40% 53% 57%

Q8. Listen to: drama 26%l 13% 10%

Q8. Listen to: documentaries 28% 22% 17%

Q9. Radio Scotland: is informative 66% 87% 84%

… provides high-quality programming 71% 75% 64%

... is distinctive compared with other radio stations 61% 66% 55%

… has programmes that are entertaining 59% 63% 57%

Q10a Radio Scotland: provides high quality news 74% 75% 72%

…gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Scotland.

73% 71% 68%

… gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in the UK

57% 65% 56%

… helps me understand what's going on in the wider world, such as international news and events

54% 57% 60%

… has the right balance of serious and lighter news stories 61% 64% 50%

… helps me understand politics in Scotland 65% 63% 65%

… helps me understand UK-wide politics 53% 54% 51%

… supports arts and culture in Scotland 57% 58% 60%

… supports Scottish music 59% 72% 51%

… introduces me to new presenters, performers and artists from Scotland

48% 60% 43%

… provides coverage of a variety of sport 61% 75% 62%

… is good at portraying my particular culture or community to other people in Scotland

48% 44% 32%

… provides content and programming that caters for the population of Scotland

70% 69% 56%

… reflects my local interests and concerns 52% 49% 47%

… reflects the diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Scotland.

54% 59% 35%

When listening to… I hear a range of voices from around Scotland.

63% 78% 76%

… highlights to me important social issues 61% 60% 56%

Q11a. Listener participation: Just right 66% 77% 66%

Q12. BBC Radio Scotland website: % favourable 40% 26% 23%



Wales

Those aged 16-34 are generally the most positive and express the most favourable

views.

Those aged 35-54 are more frequently dissatisfied, often giving the lowest scores.

Wales (Radio listeners: 131) 16-34

(n = 28) 35-54

(n = 33) 55+

(n = 70)

Q7. Radio Wales: % Favourable 64% 63% 61%


Q8. Listen to: drama 24% 27% 23%


Q9. Radio Wales: is informative 93% 81% 91%




Q10a BBC Radio Wales: provides high quality news 90% 83% 93%

…gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Wales.

88% 82% 88%


85% 75% 80%


83% 79% 74%


… helps me understand politics in Wales 71% 75% 75%


… supports arts and culture in Wales 74% 77% 76%

… supports Welsh music 80% 72% 72%

… introduces me to new presenters, performers and artists from Wales

78% 72% 74%


… is good at portraying my particular culture or community to other people in Wales

70% 65% 67%

… provides content and programming that caters for the population of Wales

74% 88% 88%


… reflects the diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Wales. 62% 68% 64%

When listening to… I hear a range of voices from around Wales. 65% 87% 80%



Q12. BBC Radio Wales website: % favourable 46% 31% 37%



Northern Ireland

The most positive and favourable views are most frequently expressed by older

listeners, those aged 55 and over.

There are many similarities in views between the oldest and youngest listeners (55+

and 16-34)

The most negative views are generally expressed by those aged between 35 and 54.

Northern Ireland (Radio listeners: 194) 16-34

(n = 43) 35-54

(n = 66) 55+

(n = 85)

Q7. Radio Ulster/Foyle: % Favourable 58% 47% 63%


Q8. Listen to: drama 16% 3% 16%


Q9. Radio Ulster/Foyle: is informative 87% 80% 90%




Q10a Radio Ulster/Foyle: provides high quality news 82% 73% 88%

…gives me a better understanding of news and topical issues in Northern Ireland.

84% 71% 85%


69% 45% 66%


56% 47% 64%


… helps me understand politics in Northern Ireland 63% 67% 74%


… supports arts and culture in Northern Ireland 74% 65% 61%

… supports Northern Irish music 83% 63% 69%

… introduces me to new presenters, performers and artists from Northern Ireland

76% 60% 67%


… is good at portraying my particular culture or community to other people in Northern Ireland

61% 56% 58%

… provides content and programming that caters for the population of Northern Ireland

75% 69% 76%


… reflects the diverse faiths, cultures and communities of Northern Ireland.

71% 61% 71%

When listening to… I hear a range of voices from around Northern Ireland.

80% 79% 87%



Q12. BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle website: % favourable 34% 19% 29%

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