ABC Named Top “Must-Keep” TV Brand in New Survey

TORONTO: For the fourth time out of five cycles of research, ABC tops the "must-keep TV" poll, conducted by Solutions Research Group (SRG).

The fifth edition of the independent tracking survey is based on interviews with 1,400 U.S. consumers, who evaluated 73 TV brands. ABC was the number one "must-keep" TV brand, identified by 51 percent of all overall respondents. Among men, CBS took the top spot, while ABC led in most key female demos.

ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, plus ESPN, Discovery, HISTORY, USA Network, Food Network and TNT make up the top ten TV brands American consumers can’t do without. AMC made the biggest leap, from last year’s number 51 to now number 30. In the 18-to-34 demo, the network jumped to the number 19 position, up a record 34 spots from last year. PBS gained seven spots, from 19 to 12, led by the popularity of Downton Abbey. 

The premium movie channels Starz, Movie Channel and Cinemax declined in all demos, given the increasing popularity of online alternatives. ABC Family improved its standing in most demos, now standing at number 17 overall. The Weather Channel is now ranked number 20 among those over 18, up six spots last year. Nickelodeon dropped five spots, to number 25, and Fox News is down seven, to 30.

The survey found that despite the proliferation of alternatives, the big four networks maintain their brand equity. Seventy-seven percent of respondents included at least one of the big four in their top channels. This is exactly the same proportion as last year.