Essential Report
News Sources – Weekends
Q. And where do you get your news on an average weekend?
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
Weekend newspaper | 50% | 51% | 56% | 43% |
Commercial (free-to-air) TV news | 59% | 64% | 62% | 42% |
ABC TV news | 28% | 29% | 30% | 29% |
SBS TV news | 10% | 9% | 10% | 13% |
Pay TV news | 9% | 9% | 10% | 3% |
Commercial radio news | 17% | 15% | 22% | 10% |
ABC radio news | 13% | 13% | 14% | 17% |
Internet news sites – e.g. newspaper sites, ABC, etc | 42% | 41% | 43% | 42% |
Internet blogs | 4% | 2% | 4% | 8% |
None of them | 6% | 4% | 3% | 15% |
The most commonly used news sources on weekends are commercial TV news (59%), newspapers (50%) and internet news sites (42%). Respondents were more likely to read newspapers on weekends than weekdays (42% weekdays/50% weekends) but less likely to view commercial TV news (64%/59%) or internet news sites (55%/42%).
Respondents aged 55+ were more likely to use commercial TV news (65%), newspapers (61%), and ABC TV news (46%).

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In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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