Survey on Cable Firms Released

Subscribers to Avenue TV Cable are more satisfied with their cable quality and service than Century Cable subscribers, according to a study conducted for the city of Ventura.

In an analysis released Friday, Group W Communications reported the results of a telephone survey of 400 local residents that was conducted during a one-week period in August.

The interviews were conducted with subscribers of both cable operators. The residents were asked questions on reception quality, customer-service issues, importance of local programming, and future services.

The study found that about six out of 10 Avenue TV Cable subscribers rated overall quality and service as good or better. Fewer than three out of 10 Century subscribers felt the same.

Also, while nearly 75% of the surveyed Avenue TV subscribers rated the variety of programming as good or very good, less than half of Century subscribers did so.

While few were willing to pay extra for more services, respondents said they would like to receive such services as movies on demand, high-speed Internet access and telephone service.

The survey was conducted as part of the city’s cable franchise renewal process to assess the community’s future cable needs. The city also held a series of public workshops and is conducting a customer satisfaction survey on its Web site and installing a cable hotline. More than 800 calls have come into the hotline since it was launched in the spring, city public information representative Jenise Wagar said.