The respondent works on______

A Excuse me, I’m sorry to bother yo.u, but would you have time to answer a few questions?
B What’s it about?
A We’re doing some market research for a new television channel starting in two years’ time.
B OK, why not?
A Lovely, we’ll just work through this form. And if we could start with some personal background information...
B Sure.
A Right, if I could just have your age...
B 35.
A Right, great...
Repeat
A Right, great. And your job?
B Systems analyst, but for the form I don’t know whether it would count as professional or business or what.
A What do you think?
B OK, it’s more like business.
A Fine. And would you mind my asking about your salary? Or we can leave it blank.
B No, I don’t mind. It’s ￡40,000 a year.
A Thank you. Right... about your current watching habits... what would you say is your main reason for watching TV?
B Well, at work I tend to read for information and what have you, so I’d say that with TV it probably just helps me relax and unwind.
A Fine. And how many hours a day on average do you watch TV?
B Not a lot really... I should say just over an hour.
A So what are the two main times of the day that you watch TV?
B Well, a little around breakfast time and then it tends to be really late—eleven or even midnight—when I’ve finished work.
A And what sort of programmes do you go for?
B Some news bulletins but I also really like to put my feet up with some of the old comedy shows.
A Fine. And turning to the new channel... which type of programmes would you like to see more of?
B Well, I certainly don’t think we need any more factual programmes like news and documentaries. I think we need more about things like local information…you know, providing a service for the community. And in the same vein, perhaps more for younger viewers…you know, good quality stuff.
A Ah ha. And if you had to give the new directors some specific advice when they set up the channel, what advice would you give them?
B I think I’d advise them to pay a lot of attention to the quality of the actual broadcast, you know, the sound system. People are very fussy these days about that and in general I think they ought to do lots more of these kinds of interview, you know, talking with their potential customers.
A Oh, I’m glad you think it’s valuable!
B Certainly. . .yeah.
A Good. OK, this will be a commercial channel of course , but how often do you think it is tolerable to have adverts?
B Well, out of that list I’d say every quarter of an hour. I don’t think we can complain about that, as long as they don’t last for ten minutes each time!
A Quite. And ... would you be willing to attend any of our special promotions for the new channel?
B Yes, I’d be very happy to, as long as they’re held here in my area.
A OK, I’ll make a note of that. And finally, may we put you on our mailing list?
B Well, I’d prefer not... except for the information about the promotion you mentioned.
A Can I have your name and address?
B Of course.. .here’s my card.
A Oh, lovely... and thank you very much for your time and we look forward to seeing you.
B Yes, indeed. Um, thanks.