This report, one of two investigations into the use of public television and radio requested by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and prepared by their Office of Communication Research, provides an analysis and comparison of five selected public affairs programs. These programs include "The MacNeil/Lehrer Report,""USA: People and Politics," and "Wall Street Week" (all PBS productions), as well as "Meet the Press" (NBC), and "Sixty Minutes" (CBS). Data, gathered from the 1976 Roper Reports, were collected in order to determine the percentage of audience attributable to various demographic groups and to assess the viewing penetration of "reach" of each program. In summary, data show that public affairs programs, whether produced by public television or commercial networks, draw audiences of varied characteristics. (KS)