75% of Pinoys want new franchise for ABS-CBN – survey

Three out of four adult Filipinos believe that Congress should grant ABS-CBN a new franchise, according to a July 3 to 6 survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Results of the survey were released on Saturday, a day after the House of Representatives’ committee on legislative franchises, in a vote of 70-11, denied the network a fresh 25year franchise.

The SWS poll found 75 percent of 1,555 respondents, aged 18 years old and above, agreeing with the statement: “Congress should renew the franchise of ABS-CBN so that it can broadcast its programs again.”

Thirteen percent of the respondents disagreed, while the remaining 10 percent were undecided on the matter, the pollster said.

The survey also found the majority – or 56 percent of respondents – who

said the non-renewal of the ABSCBN franchise “is a major blow to press freedom,” 27 percent disagreed, and 15 were undecided.

Support for the ABS-CBN franchise renewal was strong in all areas, especially outside Metro Manila and in rural areas, the SWS said.

It was highest in Mindanao at 80 percent, followed by the Visayas at 77 percent, balance Luzon with 74 percent, and Metro Manila at 69 percent.

It was higher in rural areas at 81 percent, than in urban areas at 70 percent.

The ABS-CBN franchise renewal gained stronger support among women, at 81 percent, than men at 70 percent, according to the SWS.

By education, those who agree that Congress should renew the ABS-CBN franchise were higher among non-elementary graduates (82 percent) and elementary graduates (84 percent), compared to junior high school graduates (74 percent), and college graduates (65 percent).

The survey showed majorities in all areas and demographics consider Congress’ non-renewal of ABS-CBN franchise a major blow to press freedom.

The view was highest in the Visayas at 59 percent, followed by Mindanao at 57 percent, balance Luzon at 55 percent, and Metro Manila at 52 percent.

Majorities in rural (57 percent) and urban (55 percent) areas shared this opinion.

This was also the dominant opinion among women at 59 percent, and men at 52 percent, and among all age groups, ranging from 49 percent to 59 percent.

By education, those who consider Congress’ non-renewal of ABSCBN franchise as a major blow to press freedom were higher among non-elementary graduates (61 percent) and elementary graduates (63 percent), compared to junior high school graduates (54 percent) and college graduates (50 percent).

The SWS nationwide survey was conducted using mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviewing.