Some 53% of the Moldovans watch TV for 2-3 hours a day during the week and 82% of these prefer news TV channels. On the weekend, 28% of the Moldovans spend 4-6 hours a day before the TV set, while 12% - more than 8 hours, shows the study “Index of TV consumption in the Republic of Moldova”, which was carried out by Mercury Research for SES Astra Romania and was presented in Chisinau on June 23, IPN reports.

Presenting the survey, SES Astra country manager Mihai Ursoi said 60% of the Moldovans possess more than one TV set. The number of those who watch Russian TV channels is by 25% higher than of those who watch Romanian TV channels, while the international TV channels occupy 71% of the Moldovans’ preference list. The rankings of chosen products are topped by news, followed by films, while the sports programs and animated cartoons are placed last.

The number of TV channels offered by a TV provider is the main factor based on which the provider is chosen. Some 22% of the respondents indicated this. 20% of those polled choose based on the conviction that they do not have an alternative, while 17% - based on quality. According to the study, almost half of the population (46%) subscribed to the services of the national carrier Moldtelecom.

Satellite television is preferred by one in six Moldovans though there is no satellite TV provider in Moldova at present.

The survey was carried out in April this year and covered a sample of 415 persons older than 18. The margin of sampling error is 5%.