Okay in the light of the recent cuts to the ABC here is something for the government to take into consideration. According to recent research released by Roy Morgan almost 11.8 million Australians 14+ (61%) cited at least one ABC or ABC2 television show they ‘especially choose to watch’ in the year to September 2014—and the majority of these ABC-lovers selected at least four different programs.
Tim Martin, General Manager – Media explained that 5.5 million people especially choose to watch between one and three shows on the ABC and another 6.3 million (almost 1 in 3 Australians) especially choose to watch four or more. Martin added that a separate metric used by Roy Morgan Research to monitor the level of TV viewers’ involvement is to ask if they ‘really love to watch’ a show. 8.7 million Australians (45%) say they really love one or more ABC shows—and over 3.1 million love four or more.
“We ask people about what shows they really love to watch and also those they especially choose to watch. Often, of course, there is substantial cross-over. But a show like Lateline for example, which is rumoured to be facing cuts to its budget, has almost a million people ‘especially choosing’ to watch it—almost three times the number who say they ‘really love’ to watch it.” Mr Martin commented.

Mr Martin also mentioned that when it comes to the ‘special’ broadcasting on SBS also has wide appeal: almost half of Australians aged 14+ (9.2 million) especially choose to watch at least one show on SBS ONE, SBS2 or NITV, with over a third of these (3.1 million) putting at least four different SBS programs in that must-see category. Martin added that when it comes to beloved programming, SBS offers something to over 5.8 million viewers. 4.6 million Australians really love one, two or three shows screening on SBS in the year to September 2014, while another 1.2 million really love at least four.
“On the ABC, Weeknight News, Australian Story and Midsomer Murders are the top three shows by number of us who especially choose to watch. Aside from special sporting events, the shows on SBS with the most ‘especially choosing’ viewers are World News, Who Do You Think You Are? and Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam.” Mr Martin Commented.