‘After School’ top in TVNZ survey

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 19

‘After School’ top in TVNZ survey

Results' from a survey run by Television New Zealand’s “After School” indicate that the' cartoon programme “Secret Squirrel” is the favourite across three age groups of children. Children were invited to list the two programmes they enjoyed most, with the possibility of winning an autographed copy of the children’s version of David Attenborough’s “Life On Earth” in a lucky draw. Among children 10 years and over the- favourite "Secret Squirrel” , was followed by “After School,” “Greatest American Hero” and “Take Hart.” Seven to nine year olds had the same preferences in the 'same order except that “Beany and Cecil” ousted "Take Hart” for fourth place., Six. year olds and younger chose '‘Secret Squirrel,” "Beany and Cecil” and “Play School” followed by "After School.” Nearly 5000 children returned entries and although the survey was not statistically controlled, “After School’s” producer, lan Cumming, believes that it does reveal something about what the children themselves

like to watch. “Obviously errors in the sample will occur because of lack of recall,” he says, “and some children are likely to have voted for the pro-

-grammes they expect to be the over-all favourites, rather than for their own favourites. But it. is interesting to compare these results with the Feltex Awards.”