The new communicative ethos of the political debate talk show in Danish multi-platform public service television

Abstract

The new communicative ethos of the political debate talk show in Danish multi-platform public service television aBsTracT This article presents an analysis of the attempt to revitalize the genre-viewer relationship in the political debate talk show in multi-platform public service television in Denmark. Based on the generic development since the 1990s, and main findings from a comprehensive case study of the interaction between the live broadcast and the Facebook profile of the show The Debate, the article argues that the communicative ethos has changed profoundly. Populism is no longer adequate to understand the entertaining qualities produced. Finally, the article discusses the emerging conceptualization of the audience at work in the production culture and the creative challenges it entails.