Prime-time Television Programs Research Articles

Spirituality and people with psychosis: A content analysis of influential primetime television programs.

This mixed methods study examined depictions of spirituality among people with psychosis in influential television programming. Spirituality is a central strength for many people with psychosis. Yet, despite the important role media plays in shaping perceptions, little research has examined the intersection between spirituality and psychosis in the popular media. To address this gap, we conducted a content analysis of the 50 most viewed primetime fictional television shows over a 10-year period as determined by the Nielsen rating organization. Characters with psychosis were identified via keyword searches of online sources (Wikis, IMDb, etc.) and subsequently independently coded by two individuals. Characters were rated on 18 items in three domains related to demographics, life status, and character framing. Inter-rater reliability ranged from good to excellent across variables. Of 120 identified characters with psychosis, just 16% (n = 19) had a spiritual identity. Analysis revealed few differences between spiritual and secular characters on demographic and life status variables. Conversely, an examination of framing variables revealed spiritual characters were comparatively less attractive, exhibited a greater negative impact on society, and were more likely to be referred to pejoratively (as a psychopath) and engage in criminal activity. Trend analysis indicated portrayals of spiritual characters decreased over time. The results suggest media depictions of spirituality contribute to the stigmatization of spirituality among people with psychosis, potentially preventing access to important coping resources and discouraging professional help-seeking. Primary care physicians should consider incorporating a spiritual assessment into care to determine spiritual coping assets and then support these.

A Content Analysis of American Primetime Television: A 20-Year Update of the National Television Violence Studies

AbstractThis article provides a 20-year, apples-to-apples update of the National Television Violence Studies. Using the same sampling procedures and codebook, we coded 765 primetime television programs and movies airing on 21 broadcast and cable networks. Results suggest the prevalence of violence has increased slightly, but the number of programs saturated with violence has experienced a more significant increase. This appears to be driven by an influx of highly violent movies airing in primetime on cable channels. Although some contextual variables suggest slight improvements in terms of negative consequences for violence, the overwhelming majority of violent television programs and movies do not feature anti-violence themes. Implications for social cognitive, cultivation, schema, transportation, and media vividness theories are discussed.

Reassessing the risks: an updated content analysis of violence on U.S. children’s primetime television

ABSTRACT This study provides a comprehensive update investigating the amount and nature of violence contained in primetime television programming that targets children aged 17 and younger. Using the same sampling procedures and codebook as the original National Television Violence Study, we coded 765 primetime television programs airing on 21 broadcast and cable networks during the 2016/2017 season. We then separated children’s programs from nonchildren’s programs to compare violence by amount and context. Results indicate that programs targeted to youth continue to be more violent than programs made for adults, but the percentage of such programs was slightly lower than what was reported twenty years ago. Once again, violence in children’s programs is just as likely to be glamorized as shows for adults but continues to be more sanitized and trivialized. Implications for children’s learning of aggression are discussed.

Prior disclosure of product placement: The more explicit the disclosure, the better the brand recall and brand attitude

Despite frequent calls for research from policy makers and scholars, the effect of the prior disclosure of product placement has yet to be confirmed. A preliminary analysis of eight weeks of prime-time television programs revealed that most brand appearances (60.1%) were not disclosed. For those that were disclosed, the placed brands were acknowledged at the end of the programs. A between-subjects web-based experimental study was then conducted to examine the effect of three levels of prior disclosure (none vs. partial vs. full) on placement effectiveness (N = 1100). The results showed that explicitly disclosing the source and intent of a placed brand enhanced the recall and liking of it. Level of prior disclosure also had an indirect effect on the evaluation of a placed brand via the mediator of program liking, while psychological trait reactance worked as a moderator. The results have significant theoretical and practical implications for the field, which are discussed together with future research avenues.

Patient-centered Communication Behaviors on Primetime Television

Previous research suggests that television programming may influence viewers’ health-related knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors but has yet to examine patient–provider interactions on the most popular primetime television programs. We aimed to characterize the frequency and nature of patient-centered communication (PCC) behaviors on these programs, as cultivation and social cognitive theories suggest that these depictions may influence viewers’ expectations of real-life health-care experiences. We examined 203 patient–provider interactions across 84 episodes of 22 primetime television programs—both medical and non-medical—that aired during the spring of 2016 and spring of 2017. Each interaction was analyzed for the presence of 21 optimal PCC behaviors. This study found that the most frequently observed PCC behaviors focused on the provider making good eye contact and displaying good manners. However, PCC behaviors related to managing patient uncertainty and self-management were rare. Overall, providers in medical programs were significantly more likely to exhibit certain PCC behaviors, such as asking a patient questions, having good manners, and self-disclosing personal information, compared to providers in non-medical programs. Implications of these findings include the potential for such depictions to influence patient expectations of real-life experiences and health outcomes. Future research is needed to examine these potential influences.

Summaries

Susan Vertoont Representations of disability on primetime television in Flanders This paper examines primetime television representations of disability in Flanders. The aim of the study was to analyse in which identities (RQ 1) and in which roles (RQ 2) characters with disabilities are represented on television. By means of a quantitative content analysis in a constructed week (January-February 2016), 115 primetime television programs and 2.414 television characters were studied. The results show a bias in favour of adult, male characters with physical disabilities. Women, youngsters and seniors with disabilities are less frequently represented, as are people with health or learning disabilities. Moreover, we noticed little diversity among the genres and roles in which disabled characters are represented. Only roles that can grant disability a central story line, seem to include disabled characters. Roles in which disability would become a coincidental feature (e.g. candidates in game shows, supporting roles in fictional programs) do not seem to allow characters with disabilities. Keywords: disability, gender, television, representation, content analysis

Beperkte beeldvorming

Representations of disability on primetime television in Flanders This paper examines primetime television representations of disability in Flanders. The aim of the study was to analyse in which identities (RQ 1) and in which roles (RQ 2) characters with disabilities are represented on television. By means of a quantitative content analysis in a constructed week (January-February 2016), 115 primetime television programs and 2.414 television characters were studied. The results show a bias in favour of adult, male characters with physical disabilities. Women, youngsters and seniors with disabilities are less frequently represented, as are people with health or learning disabilities. Moreover, we noticed little diversity among the genres and roles in which disabled characters are represented. Only roles that can grant disability a central story line, seem to include disabled characters. Roles in which disability would become a coincidental feature (e.g. candidates in game shows, supporting roles in fictional programs) do not seem to allow characters with disabilities.

Mapping between placement strategies and placed product attributes in television programs

ABSTRACT Previous research on product placement, the integration of branded information in media content, has mainly focused on its impact on consumer behavior, but very few have examined the association between placement strategies and placed product attributes. Building on the economics of information theory and the message matching model, the purpose of this study is to examine the congruence between the key attributes of the placed product/brand and the placement strategies adopted. A large-scale content analysis of products appearing in Hong Kong prime-time television programs was conducted. In line with traditional advertising, search goods were found to be placed with more details disclosed and with higher prominence than were experience goods. Experience goods placed in television programs were more likely well-known brands. A higher level of character interaction with search goods than experience goods was found in television programs. The pattern in general aligned with the predictions derived from traditional advertising but was somehow manifested in different ways. This study facilitates greater understanding among marketers and academics of the applicability of the theories to the non-traditional advertising context, which may help simplifying marketers’ decisions in formulating placement strategies.

Religious Practices and Conversations in American and Israeli Prime-Time Television Programming

This comparative content analysis examines the extent to which religion finds expression in mainstream TV programming. The appearance of religious practices, the level of fulfillment they bring, and the extent to which they accord with religious law along with the tone of conversation about religion were coded in 154 hours of prime-time network programming from the USA and 112 hours of prime-time programming aired by the major TV stations in Israel. The results indicate a very infrequent presence of religion in the programming in the two countries: once in two hours in Israel and once in three hours in the USA, but while in US programming more than three quarters of the religious practices brought fulfillment to their participants and more than 90% of the practices adhered fully or partly to religious rules, in Israeli shows only one quarter of the practices brought fulfillment and just half of them adhered fully or partly to religious rules. Conversation about religion appeared just as infrequently as practices did, but its tone was mainly positive in both countries.

The Violence Profile: Five Decades of Cultural Indicators Research

This study examines violence in prime-time broadcast network television programs aired between 1967 and 2015. The data show that violence has been a consistent and central part of programming, although levels vary by genre. Violence decreased in the 1990s, due mostly to the greater prominence of sitcoms and crime-related procedurals (such as Law & Order and CSI), which feature fewer explicit acts of violence. However, violence is making a serious comeback on prime time, with four of the five measures we examined reaching historically high levels in the 2010s. The percentage of characters involved in violence remains lower than in earlier years. Despite some ebbs and flows over the years, and dramatic institutional and technological changes, even at its lowest points violence on television is never far from the scene and remains difficult for the heavy viewer to avoid.

Representations of Interpersonal Interaction and Race/Ethnicity: An Examination of Prime-Time Network Television Programs

Racial and ethnic relations in America are a form of social interaction about which changing perceptions could have important consequences. Current research examining the nature of discrete social interaction situations in entertainment content on television is lacking. This study was conducted with the objective of obtaining an updated account of the state of interpersonal interaction portrayals between characters of different racial/ethnic backgrounds in popular prime time programs on broadcast television. Specifically, we analyzed prime-time television program content on 4 major U.S. broadcast networks. Findings are interpreted via a media priming framework.

Gilligan and Captain Kirk have more in common than you think: 1960s Camp TV as an alternative genealogy for Cult TV

Abstract A number of mid-1960s prime-time television programmes such as Batman (1966–69) and The Monkees (1966–68) seemed to not just allow, but encourage viewing practices that transcended the infantilized conceptualization of that era’s television audiences. This article argues such programmes constitute a significant and unhistoricized set of predecessors to contemporary Cult TV. Analysing audience interpretive practices and the set of textual characteristics that facilitated and encouraged such participatory and interpretive activities, we also identify a relatively cohesive group of programmes, all of which premiered in that period, that we retrospectively nominate as ‘Camp TV’. These shows’ distinguishing narrative elements, namely the surreal humour of Green Acres (1965–71), satire of Get Smart (1965–70), exaggerated clichés of Batman (1966–69) and anarchic character of The Monkees appealed to a youth audience and lent themselves to multiple readings and viewing practices similar to those that would come to greater fruition with the later development of Cult TV.

Product placement practices in prime-time television programmes in Hong Kong

ABSTRACTProduct placement research tends to show how product placements impact consumer behaviour but less research examines the nature of product placement execution. This is the first study to examine product placement execution in Asia focusing on Hong Kong prime-time television programmes. Specifically it explores the prevalence of brand appearances, characteristics of programmes linked to brand appearances, features of placed brands and products, modality of brand appearances, character interaction with placed products and the placement context. It was found that integrating brands in television programmes in Hong Kong seems to be well supported by advertisers, with one brand appearing in every 11 minutes of programming. Less than half of brand appearances were disclosed at the end of the programmes, while none were disclosed prior to the programme which raises questions about regulation of the practice. Results of the analysis provide useful insights into the practice of product placement in this fast growth context and its (dis)connection with existing product placement literature.

Depictions of Gender on Primetime Television: A Quantitative Content Analysis

To document current portrayals of women and men on primetime television, a quantitative content analysis was conducted. A 1-week composite of primetime television programming across 9 broadcast and cable networks was randomly sampled, yielding 89 programs and 1,254 characters. Consistent with prior findings, women were significantly underrepresented on primetime TV when compared with men. Analyses examined representations of gender in the realms of occupation, aggression, sexualization, and stereotypically masculine and feminine attributes, with comparisons drawn across different age groups. Contrary to popular belief, these findings suggest that the current state of primetime television does not represent a “golden age” for women. Although it appears that some gender stereotypes have declined when compared to previous decades, others (e.g., dominant men, sexually provocative women) have persisted. Implications are discussed in terms of cultivation and social cognitive theories.

Trends in Urological Direct-to-Consumer Advertising during Prime-Time Television News Programs

IntroductionThe purpose of this study is to characterize contemporary trends in direct-to-consumer advertising of urological pharmaceutical products on American prime-time television programs. Television is the highest expenditure segment of the consumer drug marketing industry. The extent of advertising in urology and its potential impact on patients are not well understood. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed an indexed database of prime-time news broadcasts on 5 national networks in the United States. The database was queried with the names of 77 urological pharmaceutical products to identify all commercials that aired during a 36-month period between 2010 and 2013. Noncommercial segments were excluded. Descriptive and linear regression analysis was performed. ResultsWe analyzed 4,574 broadcasts, representing 3,067.5 hours of prime-time television. A total of 2,068 commercials for 8 products and 4 urological indications were aired, including sildenafil and tadalafil for erectile dysfunction; 2 testosterone products for hypogonadism; fesoterodine, oxybutynin and solifenacin for overactive bladder; and sipuleucel-T for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer. Commercials for male oriented indications accounted for 90% of the sample. At least 1 urological advertisement was contained in 1,744 broadcasts (38%). The introduction of television marketing for newly approved testosterone supplementation products in 2012 corresponded to strongly linear growth in overall urological advertising, reaching peak levels in 2013. ConclusionsUrological pharmaceutical products have been consistently advertised on television. Commercials have extensively targeted male oriented indications. Viewers of national news programs were exposed to urological advertising during about 40% of broadcasts with steadily increasing exposure since 2012. Providers should be aware of these trends to contextualize demand and monitor prescribing patterns.

A Community of Mourners: collective sentiment, national belonging and the Muslim ‘Other’ after the ‘Sydney Siege’

ABSTRACTThis paper analyses collective sentiment in media responses to the event known as the ‘Sydney Siege’ (December 2014), focusing on the everyday narratives about nationhood and belonging. The aim of the article is to analyse how a hostage-taking situation, represented as a terrorist act, served to reinforce the boundaries of a national community in relation to Australian Muslims. The theoretical framework draws from Ahmed’s (‘The Organization of Hate’, in Emotions: A Cultural Studies Reader, edited by J. Harding and E. D. Pribram, 251–267 (London and New York: Routledge, 2009)) concept of ‘affective economies’ and focuses on the inclusion/exclusion dynamic working through the lens of emotions. The paper analyses data collected from three high-circulation Australian daily newspapers (The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and The Daily Telegraph) and one prime-time current affairs television program (ABC’s 7.30 Report), as well as government press releases. A qualitative thematic discourse analysis of 151 articles, mediated by NVivo software, provided insight into the ways in which collective sentiment was (trans)formative to narratives about nationhood, belonging and the Muslim ‘Other’. We argue that the outpouring of collective sentiments of fear, compassion/solidarity and grief during the ‘Sydney Siege’ made the everyday experience of the Muslim presence in Australia visible in a public space as well as in the public debate.

Infotainment in the campaign for the 2015 Spanish general election: An analysis of El Hormiguero from a gender perspective

<p>Within the new landscape of political communications characterized by infotainment in prime time television programs, this article analyzes the presence of four political representatives in <em>El Hormiguero</em> to explore if their appearances reinforce gender stereotypes. The analysis of the television programs reveals a substantial progress in the elimination of gender stereotypes which the media traditionally convey and reproduce in political campaigns. The analysis reveals a practical elimination of gendered bias in the interviews; the sexist tone remains, however, in other spaces of the television program linked to humor and entertainment practices.</p>

A Girl Worth Fighting For: A Rhetorical Critique of Disney Princess Mulan's Bisexuality

Disney recently revealed that its character Mulan was bisexual on its prime time television program, Once Upon A Time. This article critiques this queering's dimensions of freedom and domination through the lens of critical rhetoric. Mulan's queering represents a progressive step forward for Disney, as the company previously had no lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) characters. However, Disney's choice of the most masculine princess as a bisexual reinforces harmful stereotypes about LGBT women, whereas its choice to permit a bisexual character solely on a program aimed at adults neglects its role as a moral educator of children.

The Value of Earned Audiences: How Social Interactions Amplify TV Impact

ABSTRACT The combined effect of using television and social media simultaneously has created an opportunity to influence a large—hitherto not well-understood—group: the “earned audience.” The current research is believed to be the first to explore the value (as opposed to volume) of the “earned audience” (users exposed to Tweets about television programs and their sponsors) on the Twitter platform. By examining Twitter users9 behavioral and attitudinal response to television Tweets during primetime television programming, the authors of the current study found that earned audiences would take actions both related to television viewing and engaging with their brand sponsors—an untapped potential for programmers and advertisers.

Histories of becoming: Donkerland re-members South Africa

This article discusses how the South African period drama, Donkerland, depicts South African history and explicates how memory is addressed in a society attempting to come to terms with a recent unsettling past. Donkerland narrates the story of six generations of one family against the backdrop of the changing socio- political landscape of South Africa over a period of 158 years (1838–1996). The central thrust of the drama is the complex play of relationships between members of a family of settlers over several generations, as well as between the family and the black workers on their farm, Donkerland (tvsa n.d.). Television period drama's ability to portray and investigate questions of power and politics on both a macro/social and micro/personal level, offers an ideal vantage point from which to explore the complex dynamics of reinventing national histories. An analysis of Donkerland thus allows us to explore how popular fiction can contribute to the imagination of identity and memory in postcolonial and post-apartheid South Africa. To this end, this article explores the role primetime television programmes – in particular, period dramas like Donkerland – play as acts of remembrance, focusing specifically on how they (re)inscribe the past to reflect on the present and shape the future.