TY - JOUR

T1 - Audiences of popular European television crime drama

T2 - A 9-country study on consumption patterns, attitudes and drivers of transcultural connection

AU - Bengesser, Cathrin Helen

AU - De Rosa, Paola

AU - Jensen, Pia Majbritt

AU - Spaletta, Marica

PY - 2021/10/31

Y1 - 2021/10/31

N2 - This article presents findings of a quali-quantitative audience study on consumption pat-terns of and attitudes towards European television crime narratives among European viewers. Based on semi-structured interviews in Denmark, Germany and Italy and a 9-country online survey (n1321), we asked how, when, where and why European audienc-es watch crime series, and whether watching non-domestic European crime narratives influence the perception of the European ‘Other’. Our findings reveal preferences for An-glo-American content that is seen as the benchmark, combined with a criticality towards domestic content that is perceived as stereotyped. While stereotypes, personal and previ-ous non-mediated encounters draw viewers to European content, it does not necessarily challenge viewers’ perceptions of the European ‘Other’. It does, however, enable critical reflection on viewers’ domestic societies and TV cultures, leading to a process of banal cosmopolitanism.

AB - This article presents findings of a quali-quantitative audience study on consumption pat-terns of and attitudes towards European television crime narratives among European viewers. Based on semi-structured interviews in Denmark, Germany and Italy and a 9-country online survey (n1321), we asked how, when, where and why European audienc-es watch crime series, and whether watching non-domestic European crime narratives influence the perception of the European ‘Other’. Our findings reveal preferences for An-glo-American content that is seen as the benchmark, combined with a criticality towards domestic content that is perceived as stereotyped. While stereotypes, personal and previ-ous non-mediated encounters draw viewers to European content, it does not necessarily challenge viewers’ perceptions of the European ‘Other’. It does, however, enable critical reflection on viewers’ domestic societies and TV cultures, leading to a process of banal cosmopolitanism.

KW - Crime series

KW - Audience studies

KW - social research

KW - European television

KW - Transculturality

M3 - Journal article

SP - 1

JO - European Journal of Communication

JF - European Journal of Communication

SN - 0267-3231

ER -