MELBOURNE, Fla., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers want access to high definition television (HDTV) programming from local stations, and they are willing to give up channels in exchange for the better picture and sound available with HDTV, according to a recent independent survey commissioned by Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS - news).
The telephone survey results are being released as the Federal Communications Commission considers whether cable companies should carry HDTV programming offered by local television stations. The survey, conducted last month, questioned 700 consumers across the United States about digital and cable television. The group selected is representative of the U.S. population.
The survey showed that almost all of the respondents felt cable providers should carry local network affiliates' HDTV programs. In addition, more than half said they would be willing to give up some of their present channels for HDTV's superior pictures and sound.
Nearly two thirds of the respondents said they actually watched fewer than a third of the channels they receive, while the vast majority said they watched no more than half their available channels. More than three-quarters of the respondents watch 10 or fewer channels per week.
''These findings contradict the popular assumption that today's television viewers are only interested in receiving more channels,'' said Bruce M. Allan, vice president and general manager of Harris' Broadcast Division. ''They show that consumers are willing to give up quantity in exchange for improved quality.''
Among the survey results:
91% felt cable providers should carry local stations' HDTV programming. 80% indicated they were not aware of the must-carry debate involving digital HDTV.
78% watch 10 or fewer channels per week.
56% said they would give up channels in order to get HDTV programming.
How The Study Was Conducted:
The telephone survey was conducted in May by Systems Research Corporation of Rochelle Park, New Jersey. SRC asked 700 randomly-selected consumers their feelings on digital and cable television. Don't know/refused responses were removed from the tabulations.
Harris Corporation Background:
Harris is the leader in advanced transmitter equipment for DTV systems and the leading manufacturer of digital radio broadcast equipment in the U.S. The company has signed agreements to provide DTV transmitters to more than 200 television stations in the U.S. Last year, a Harris transmitter became the first in the U.S. to broadcast commercial digital television signals. The company also developed the test bed that was used to evaluate each of the digital television systems proposed for the U.S. market.
Harris has provided transmitter equipment for six of the United States' seven experimental DTV stations, including PBS-member stations WETA (Washington, D.C.), KCTS (Seattle) and Oregon Public Broadcasting (Portland), as well as stations WCBS (New York), WRAL (Raleigh, North Carolina), and WHD (Washington, D.C.), the nation's model station. Additionally, Harris has supplied digital transmitters for high-definition TV demonstrations worldwide.
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