Religious television uses and gratifications

Abstract

The study approached viewers of religious television as an active audience as defined in uses and gratifications research, and considered the interrelated nature of television motives, and relationships among viewing motives and patterns. Recent religious television programming research suggests an expansion of the conceptual distinction between ritualized and instrumental secular television use. Canonical correlation identified reactionary television use as a third viewing pattern among 210 adult viewers of religious television. Dissatisfaction with secular television, rather than motives associated with religiosity, contributed to this type of use.