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MCTV says 68 percent of viewers satisfied

MCTV is questioning the validity of an NDP poll indicating virtually all Northerners feel the Sudbury station has deteriorated. Citing an independent survey, MCTV says 68 percent of its viewers are satisfied.
MCTV

MCTV is questioning the validity of an NDP poll indicating virtually all Northerners feel the Sudbury station has deteriorated. Citing an independent survey, MCTV says 68 percent of its viewers are satisfied.

The station released the following statement late Tuesday afternoon:

"In discussion with NDP communications staff it has come to our attention that the 'poll' on MCTV News released today (Tuesday, March 5, 2002) by the NDP has questionable scientific merit. Information was gathered by inviting the public to respond anonymously to an NDP website. For a poll or survey to be scientifically valid certain controls must be in place.

"For instance, participants must be selected at random, the poll or survey must be conducted by an independent third party with appropriate expertise, and the release of the poll or survey must be accompanied by crucial information on methodology such as the size of the survey, when the survey was conducted, the number of respondents contacted, the margin or error, etc. In the case of the aforementioned NDP poll, none of these controls was in place.

"CTV recently commissioned Pollara Research Toronto to conduct a poll in December 2001 and again in January 2002. According to the Pollara poll, MCTV viewers in northeastern Ontario are extremely supportive of local programming, particularly during the supper hour newscast. Over 68 percent of viewers polled in January 2002 in Northeastern Ontario said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the restructured regional broadcast."

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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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