1 Measuring Reaction to Targeted Help Methodology BMRB1 were commissioned by the BBC Governance Unit to measure the public’s reaction to the principle of targeted help and also reactions to the potential impact of targeted help on the actual licence fee. Summary of Results 1. Principle of targeted help “The Government has stated that they aim to switch off the analogue television signal by 2012 when all homes would be able to receive digital television. The Government has also said that there should be a further increase to the licence fee in order to make sure more vulnerable groups such as the elderly have access to digital television. In principle, how do you feel about this further increase to help such groups have access to digital television? Do you......? Strongly support it Support it Oppose it Strongly oppose it Don’t know “ Results Around half of those surveyed say they support this plan (51% - strongly support/support). These tend to be: those in social class AB (59%); 15-24 year olds (58%); higher BBC approvers (57%); those in the West Midlands (57%); those in the South East (56%); men (56%); those who don’t actually pay for the licence fee (55%). 45% of those surveyed said that they were opposed to this extra funding (strongly oppose/oppose). These tend to be: lower BBC approvers (59%); those living in Wales (53%); those in social class DE (51%); 35-44 year olds (50%); women (49%); those who pay for the licence fee (48%). 1 BMRB Omnibus – face to face survey of c2000 adults 15+ in the UK, 9th-15th March 2006 2 2. Level of targeted help funding The question on the principle of targeted help was asked of the full sample. The sample was then split into four sub-samples (c500 each) and their level of support to differing potential increases for targeted help assessed. The different levels tested were: Sample A: £1.20 annual incremental increase for six years Sample B: £1.80 annual incremental increase for six years Sample C: £4.00 one-off increase for six years Sample D: £6.00 one-off increase for six years The omnibus question for samples A and B followed the structure below (the values shown are for sample A): “Thinking now about the further increase to the annual licence fee which would be specifically to help such groups have access to digital television. If the licence fee was increased by an extra £1.20 each year, for six years and was then dropped down again to the normal licence fee level, how would you feel then? The additional increases to help vulnerable groups would therefore look like this: year 1= licence fee + £1.20 year 2= licence fee + £2.40 year 3= licence fee + £3.60 year 4= licence fee + £4.80 year 5= licence fee + £6.00 year 6= licence fee + £7.20 year 7= licence fee + no extra increase to support vulnerable groups Would you.......? Strongly support it Support it Oppose it Strongly oppose it Don’t know “ The omnibus question for samples C and D followed the structure below (the values shown are for sample C): “Thinking now about the further increase to the annual licence fee which would help such groups have access to digital television. I f the licence fee was increased by £4 for six years and then dropped down again to the normal licence fee level, how would you feel then? Would you.......? Strongly support it Support it Oppose it Strongly oppose it Don’t know “ 3 Results Overall, the £4.00 step increase received a marginally greater level of support compared to the other possibilities with just over half of this sample indicating support. The most significant finding was the reaction to the £6.00 one-off increase with 60% of actual licence fee payers opposing this level of increase. A summary of the findings is shown below. Chart 1: Reaction to different levels of additional increase to fund targeted help 49 47 51 42 75 76 80 65 48 46 51 37 46 49 51 50 47 49 45 52 23 22 19 29 49 51 46 60 47 47 46 44 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% £1.20 £1.80 £4 £6 £1.20 £1.80 £4 £6 £1.20 £1.80 £4 £6 £1.20 £1.80 £4 £6 all adults Supporters of targeted help Licence fee payers Non-DTV owners Don't know Oppose Support Contact details: Clare Luke BBC Governance Unit 35 Marylebone High Street London, W1U 4AA (020) 7 208 9362 clare.luke@bbc.co.uk