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In this paper I examine the relationship between factual entertainment
and the family, in particular exploring the attraction of factual entertainment
within the context of everyday life. My research is an empirical study
of television audiences and factual entertainment, funded by the Economic
and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Independent Television Commission
(ITC) and Channel 4. The research uses qualitative and quantitative methods,
and my data draws on a national survey, focus groups and in depth interviews
with families. F actual entertainment is popular with general television
viewers: over 70% of adults and children, aged 4-65 years old, watch these
programmes on a regular or occasional basis. Adults are more likely to
watch factual entertainment if they have children. The most popular types
of factual programming watched by children and adults are: law and order,
public places, homes and gardens and pet programmes.
There are three main reasons why these types of factual entertainment are
so popular with family viewers. First, the scheduling is such that these
programmes are on at a time when families want easy viewing; second, the
format facilitates easy viewing, with self-contained, short segments, and/or
serialised stories with strong, identifiable characters; third, the content
of the programmes is easy to relate to, focusing on domestic/leisure sites,
and on everyday issues. This would suggest that factual entertainment is
popular because it is entertaining. However, audiences also expect factual
entertainment to perform a public service function, offering practical advice
to the family. I explore this tension between information and entertainment
by addressing the key issues within the programmes, for example an ethics
of care, and relating this to family viewers in the home environment. |
