MANILA, Philippines – Three out of 4 Filipinos said that Congress should renew the 25-year franchise bid of the country's biggest media network ABS-CBN, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) announced on Saturday or a day after the House of Representatives committee denied its application.
The latest survey, conducted from July 3 to 6, showed that 57 percent of adult Filipinos “strongly” agreed that ABS-CBN should be granted a fresh franchise, while 19 percent “somewhat” agreed.
Meanwhile, 13 percent of Filipinos said they disagreed on the network's franchise renewal, while 10 percent of them were undecided.
The survey also found 56% agreeing, 15% undecided, and 27% disagreeing that Congress’ non-renewal of ABS-CBN franchise is a major blow to press freedom.
The Kapamilya network is highly trusted by Filipinos based on past SWS surveys. Of the 11 surveys from October 2000 to December 2018, net trust in ABS-CBN was excellent in 6 and very good in 5.
The survey used mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviews of 1,555 adult respondents, 306 of who are from the National Capital Region, 451 in Balance Luzon, 388 in the Visayas, and 410 in Mindanao.
Call for franchise renewal was highest in Mindanao (80%), followed by Visayas (77%), Balance Luzon (74%) and Metro Manila (69%). Support was also higher in rural compared to urban areas, 81% vs. 70%.
SEE ALSO: ABS-CBN shutdown: Far-flung areas deprived of typhoon, COVID-19 news?
By gender, support for ABS-CBN's franchise renewal was higher among women (81%) as compared to men (70%).
By education, 82% of non-elementary graduates and 84% of elementary graduates were in favor of ABS-CBN's franchise bid. Figure also high for junior high school graduates (74%) and college graduates (65%).
The latest SWS survey has sampling error margins of ±2 percent for national percentages, ±6 percent each for Metro Manila and ±5 percent each for Balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
SWS said the area estimates were weighted by the Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2020 to obtain the national estimates.
"The survey items reported here were non-commissioned. They were included on SWS's own initiative and released as a public service," the survey firm said.
In a similar poll conducted online by The Summit Express on July 5, 92% of respondents believe that ABS-CBN Corporation deserves a fresh franchise to continue providing service for the Filipinos.
READ: POLL RESULTS: 92-percent believe ABS-CBN deserves fresh franchise
Results of surveys are contrary to the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque who said the House panel's rejection of ABS-CBN's franchise renewal (70 to 11 vote) was a "decision of the Filipino people."
Solicitor-General Jose Calida also expressed on Saturday that Congress has ascertained that ABS-CBN is unworthy of a legislative franchise and it cannot be characterized as a restraint on freedom of expression.
READ: Calida says 'justice has been served' after House denied renewal of ABS-CBN franchise
— The Summit Express
The latest survey, conducted from July 3 to 6, showed that 57 percent of adult Filipinos “strongly” agreed that ABS-CBN should be granted a fresh franchise, while 19 percent “somewhat” agreed.
Meanwhile, 13 percent of Filipinos said they disagreed on the network's franchise renewal, while 10 percent of them were undecided.
The survey also found 56% agreeing, 15% undecided, and 27% disagreeing that Congress’ non-renewal of ABS-CBN franchise is a major blow to press freedom.
The Kapamilya network is highly trusted by Filipinos based on past SWS surveys. Of the 11 surveys from October 2000 to December 2018, net trust in ABS-CBN was excellent in 6 and very good in 5.
The survey used mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviews of 1,555 adult respondents, 306 of who are from the National Capital Region, 451 in Balance Luzon, 388 in the Visayas, and 410 in Mindanao.
Call for franchise renewal was highest in Mindanao (80%), followed by Visayas (77%), Balance Luzon (74%) and Metro Manila (69%). Support was also higher in rural compared to urban areas, 81% vs. 70%.
SEE ALSO: ABS-CBN shutdown: Far-flung areas deprived of typhoon, COVID-19 news?
By gender, support for ABS-CBN's franchise renewal was higher among women (81%) as compared to men (70%).
By education, 82% of non-elementary graduates and 84% of elementary graduates were in favor of ABS-CBN's franchise bid. Figure also high for junior high school graduates (74%) and college graduates (65%).
The latest SWS survey has sampling error margins of ±2 percent for national percentages, ±6 percent each for Metro Manila and ±5 percent each for Balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
SWS said the area estimates were weighted by the Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2020 to obtain the national estimates.
"The survey items reported here were non-commissioned. They were included on SWS's own initiative and released as a public service," the survey firm said.
In a similar poll conducted online by The Summit Express on July 5, 92% of respondents believe that ABS-CBN Corporation deserves a fresh franchise to continue providing service for the Filipinos.
READ: POLL RESULTS: 92-percent believe ABS-CBN deserves fresh franchise
Results of surveys are contrary to the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque who said the House panel's rejection of ABS-CBN's franchise renewal (70 to 11 vote) was a "decision of the Filipino people."
Solicitor-General Jose Calida also expressed on Saturday that Congress has ascertained that ABS-CBN is unworthy of a legislative franchise and it cannot be characterized as a restraint on freedom of expression.
READ: Calida says 'justice has been served' after House denied renewal of ABS-CBN franchise
— The Summit Express
