The BRC TVM Establishment Survey 2026 (TVM ES 2026)

Foundation for TV and Video Measurement

South Africa’s video landscape is changing fast — how people watch, from broadcast TV to mobile-first streaming, keeps evolving. The TVM Establishment Survey (TVM ES) is the foundation study behind the BRC’s Total Video Measurement (TVM) framework, giving the industry a transparent, current, and statistically sound basis for TV and Online Video Audience Measurement. Explore this section to find out how the ES was built, what it reveals about South African viewing habits, and how to access the data.

What is the TVM Establishment Survey?

The TVM Establishment Survey (TVM ES) is the critical foundation study used to define the population universes for television and online video measurement in South Africa. It underpins the BRC’s Total Video Measurement (TVM) framework, providing the industry with a transparent, current, and statistically sound basis for future audience measurement.

The ES is designed to:

  • Provide input for TV and online video audience measurement, enabling accurate audience sizing and segmentation
  • Monitor media infrastructure and usage trends across South African households
  • Support panel recruitment and validation for ongoing measurement services

Why This Matters

South Africa’s video landscape is changing rapidly. Viewing is no longer confined to a single screen or platform, and the way people access content — from broadcast TV to mobile-first streaming — has shifted significantly since the country’s measurement universes were last redefined. The ES was built to capture this reality precisely, replacing a broader but less precise legacy instrument.

The ES is available as a strategic research instrument that can provide unique and detailed insights into the ways South Africans are watching today. What their preferences and motives for viewing video content are and how they differ across audience segments e.g. generations, population groups, area types, but also platforms and devices.

View the BRC TVM ES 2026 short Explainer Video

How to get access to the TVM ES dataset

The ES dataset is available for Broadcasters and BRC Partners who have a licence to approved software. Other parties, for example research agencies, advertisers, and marketing agencies, are advised to connect with the BRC at office@brcsa.org.za for further information.

News

The latest TVM Establishment Survey news and events

BRC TVM Establishment Survey Webinar Recording (September 2026)

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The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRC) recently launched the Total Video Measurement, a significant national study that captures South Africa’s media landscape and audience demographics. A recording of the event is available for those interested in the developments related to this essential project for fair audience measurement.

Read more

TVM ES Qualitative Study Webinar Recording (February 2026)

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The BRC TV ES Qualitative Study Webinar, held on 5 February 2026, shared valuable insights about video measurement trends in South Africa. For those who missed it or want to revisit the information presented, a recording of the webinar is available for viewing.

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Methodology at a Glance

The TVM ES 2026 is a national, face-to-face survey (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing) conducted by ASK AFRICA, using a sample frame delivered by GeoTerra Image (GTI). It measures media behaviour — particularly TV and video viewing — and the devices used in South African homes, and serves three purposes: providing population norm figures for weighting the national TV audience survey, tracking media use trends over time, and recruiting households for the BRC TAM panel.

Sample & Universe

  • Universe: all individuals aged 15+ living in private homes in South Africa, and all private households, based on Stats SA Census data
  • Sampling frame: the GTI Enumeration Area (EA) frame — the most comprehensive and current geographic and demographic dataset available in South Africa, updated annually
  • Sample size: 15,378 interviews completed (against a target of 15,000), including booster samples to ensure robust reporting for smaller population segments
  • Method: stratified multistage cluster sampling — households are selected via Enumeration Areas, then dwellings, then a respondent within the household (Kish grid methodology), stratified by province, area type, population group, and affluence (Neighbourhood Lifestyle Index)
  • Fieldwork period: 6 September 2025 – 28 February 2026

Quality Assurance

Data quality was safeguarded through a six-layer framework spanning the full lifecycle of the study: study set-up and interviewer training, a full pilot phase, weekly progress dashboards, in-field checks (geo-fencing and covert recordings), independent QA team review, and final data-processing checks. An independent third-party field check additionally verified a sample of completed interviews against GPS and protocol data, confirming strong adherence to the sample design.

Weighting

Survey weights are calculated in stages: design weights (correcting for differences in selection probability), followed by calibration weights, aligning the sample to known Stats SA population benchmarks for province, population group, age, and gender. This ensures the weighted results are representative of the South African population.

Road to Adoption

  • Jan 2025

    Chat Chat

    First discussions and design principles

  • Qualitative family interviews

    Apr 2025

  • Jun 2025

    Brush Brush

    Sample design and questionnaire approval

  • Quantitative pilot phase

    Clock Clock

    Aug 2025

  • Sep 2025 – Feb 2026

    Establishment Survey fieldwork

  • Weighting of the data

    Chart-pie Chart-pie

    Mid-May 2026

  • Mid-May – Jun 2026

    Search Search

    Data scrutinisation phase

  • Adoption and industry launch

    Rocket Rocket

    Sep 2026

What the ES Reveals

Early findings from the TVM ES 2026 confirm a shifting media landscape:

  • South Africa is mobile first — mobile phone penetration is high across all area types, while TV penetration is lower among lower-income household segments
  • Internet access is growing — broadband is high in metro areas, while lower-income groups rely predominantly on mobile data
  • Viewing is broadening, not disappearing — video consumption is expanding across devices rather than shifting away from television altogether

Measurement universes (South African households):

TV & Online Video Measurement (TVM) Universe
% of households86%
Number of households
 15.8 million

A household qualifies for the TVM Universe (TV & Online Video Universe) if it has an eligible power source (mains electricity, prepaid electricity, solar hybrid, inverter, or generator) and at least one working TV set connected to a broadcast signal (terrestrial, DTT, satellite, or a mirrored signal) or to fixed broadband internet and/ or at least one working internet-connected device — such as a tablet, laptop, mobile phone, computer, or gaming console — accessing the internet via fixed or mobile connectivity.

Full Methodology Documentation

A detailed methodology report — covering sample design, weighting methodology, and the full scrutinisation and validation process — is available.

Download the BRC TVM ES Methodological Document

Questions?

For questions about the ES, TVM adoption, or how to access the data via Telmar, please contact office@brcsa.org.za or use the form.

Read our FAQ for more questions

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