Abstract
This study's purpose is twofold: to introduce a new format into existing political entertainment research (“serious” political talk shows) and to establish a more specific definition of entertainment in a political context. To do so, the authors rely on a two-process-model of entertainment experiences. A telephone survey (N = 230) was conducted to analyze the antecedents and consequences of eudaimonic and hedonic entertainment experiences and to look into politically relevant variables and their distribution among viewers and nonviewers of such talk shows. The results highlight the importance of introducing new entertainment concepts and their relations to other relevant political and motivational variables into the research of political entertainment. More specifically, the findings demonstrate how entertainment experiences contribute to viewers' feeling of being informed and point out several differences between viewers and nonviewers concerning their internal political efficacy and political interest. Finally, looking at political talk shows from an audience perspective extends previous content-based taxonomies.
Notes
1This format is similar to Sunday morning talk shows in the United States (e.g., Face the Nation, This Week), Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and Japan. Other similar formats are for example Roda Viva (Brazil), Inside Brüssel (Austria), Capital Talk (Pakistan), and The Big Debate (South Africa).
Note. N = 105. Scores are standardized regression weights.
*p < .05. We used an alpha level of .05 for all statistical tests.
Note. N = 105. Scores are standardized regression weights.
*p < .05. We used an alpha level of .05 for all statistical tests.