TEILIFIS na Gaeilge is to carry out its own market research on viewing figures following reports in yesterday's newspapers of a survey showing the station got an average of less than half of 1 per cent of the TV audience in its first month.
The station, which opened on October 31st, is undertaking its own research to obtain a more precise evaluation of audience figures as well as quantify the number of people having trouble tuning in.
The head of TnaG, Mr Cathal Goan, said the reported figures from the Nielsen market research company, which suggest the average daily audience is 13,000 or less, have not yet been proved accurate.
"We are not satisfied that the exact figures have been scientifically established. The survey takes a sample of 600 people but we don't know how many of them might be having problems tuning in to the station," he said.
Mr Goan admitted that TnaG underestimated the difficulties people are having in receiving the station. A public awareness campaign, involving the distribution of information leaflets nationwide, has been introduced to try to resolve the problem.
The Nielsen survey, circulated to a number of advertising agencies, estimates that the average daily rating for the station is under half of 1 per cent, where each percentage points represent about 26,000 viewers. While audience figures were shown to be greater at prime time slots, the overall figures are well below those predicted.
Mr Goan declined to say whether he thought the figures were close to the truth although he said he would be disappointed if they were accurate.
"We'd like to think that they underestimate it, but that could be wishful thinking," he said.
The new Irish language station cost an estimated £17 million to set up, £10 million of which was of Exchequer funding.