Reality TV: A Case Study on Viewing Motives of ‘‘Housemates Salone Season Two’’
Keywords:
Uses and Gratifications Theory, Viewers, Sierra Leone, Entertainment.Abstract
Abstract: The study was inspired by the uses and gratification research on reality television and it examines the viewing motives of viewers that watched the famous Sierra Leonean reality TV show ‘Housemates Salone season two’. The study adopted a quantitative research method in the form of a survey questionnaire instrument completed by participants. The results reveal that young people between the ages of 18–24 and 25–34 (students and singles) dominated the show’s viewer demographics, accounting for almost 80% of ‘Housemates Salone season two’ viewership. Findings indicate that 43.6% of viewers watched the show for 3–4 hours daily, while eviction show, Saturday parties and diary room sessions accounted for viewers' most liked aspect of the show. Despite the fact that four motives (entertainment, voyeurism, social interaction, and relaxation) were discovered to be the main motives for watching ‘Housemates Salone season two’, the entertainment motive was discovered to be the most important motive that piqued viewers' interest in watching the show. This study serves as a stepping stone for reality television research in Sierra Leone as it motivates academics and administrators to conduct more studies and invest more in reality entertainment.
References
Africell Sierra Leone (2020). Housemates Salone 2. Retrieved from https://www.africell.sl/housemates/.
Apuke, O.D. (2017). Quantitative Research Methods: A Synopsis Approach. Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 6(11), pp. 40-47, DOI: 10.12816/0040336.
Arulchelvan, S. (2019).Understanding Reality Television: A Study of Tamil Television Reality Shows Impact on Audience. Anthropological Researches and Studies, 9(1), pp. 79-86. http://doi.org/10.26758/9.1.8.
AYV Housemates Salone Season 2 (2020, December 13) Housemates Salone Season 2 Finale [Video file]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqSf1z2oguU&t=3027.
Barton, K.M. (2009). Reality Television Programming and Diverging Gratifications: The Influence of Content on Gratifications Obtained, Journal of Broadcasting &Electronic Media, 53(3), pp. 460-476. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838150903102659.
Bhandari, P. (2020, May 14). Population vs Sample: What’s the Difference? Scribbr. Retrieved from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/population-vs-sample/.
Calvert, C. (2004). Voyeur Nation: Media, Privacy, and Peering in Modern Culture, Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Couldry, N. (2003) Media Rituals: A Critical Approach (1st Ed.). London: Routledge.
Demirtaş, M. & Başkaya, A.Z. (2015). Reality TV: A Case Study on Viewing Motives of “O Ses Türkiye” In Light of Media Effects Theories. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/19572903/REALITY_TV_A_CASE_STUDY_ON_VIEWING_MOTIVES_OF_O_SES_T%C3%9CRK%C4%B0YE_IN_LIGHT_OF_MEDIA_EFFECTS_THEORIES.
Deller, R.A. (2020) Reality Television: The Television Phenomenon that Changed the World. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited.
Dunne, A.; Lawlor, M. & Rowley, J. (2010), “Young People’s Use of Online Social Networking Sites a Uses and Gratifications Perspective”, Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 4 (1), pp. 46-58. DOI: 10.1108/17505931011033551.
Folayan, B.J.; Oyetayo, T.M. & Folayan, T.T. (2019). National Interest, Identity and Press Freedom: A study of the Big Brother Nigeria TV Programme: Paper presented at the 6th Annual Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria, 2019, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Retrieved from http://eprints.federalpolyilaro.edu.ng/id/eprint/205.
Hill, A. (2005). Reality TV: Audiences and Popular Factual Television. New York: Routledge.
Kania, K. & Agatha, A. (2011). Online Consumers and the Application of Uses and Gratification Theory Case Study: The Kaskus Website. Journal Communication Spectrum, 1(2). DOI:10.36782/JCS.V1I2.6.
Katz, E.; Blumler, J. G. & Gurevitch, M. (1974). ‘‘Utilization of Mass Communication by the Individual’’, In Blumler, J. G., Katz, E. (ed.) (1974). The Uses of Mass Communications: Current Perspectives on Gratifications Research. Beverly Hills: Sage.
Kemp, S. (2021, February 12). Digital 2021: Sierra Leone. DataReportal. Retrieved from https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2021-sierra-leone.
Kuyucu, M. (2014). TV Broadcasting in Turkey: The Turkish Television Audience in the Frame of Uses and Gratification Approach, Paper presented at the Athens Institute for Education and Research 2014. Retrieved from http://www.atiner.gr/papers/TUR2014-1293.
Lamin, A. (2020, December 15). Saraih Robert wins AYV & Africell’s Housemates Salone Season Two. Sweet Salone.com. Retrieved from https://www.switsalone.com/38027_sariah-roberts-wins-ayv-africells-housemates-salone-season-two/.
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Luo, X. (2002). Uses and Gratifications Theory and E-Consumer Behaviors: A Structural Equation Modeling Study. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 2(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15252019.2002.10722060.
McCombes, S. (2019, September 19). An introduction to sampling methods. Scribbr. Retrieved from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/sampling-methods/.
McLeod, J. & Becker, L. (1981). The uses and gratifications approach. In D. Nimmo & K. Sanders (Eds.), Handbook of Political Communication (pp. 67–100). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
McLeod, S. A. (2019, August 03). Sampling methods. Simply Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/sampling.html.
McQuail, D. (2010). Mass communication theory. (6th Ed). London: Sage.
Nabi, R.L. (2007). Determining dimensions of reality: A concept mapping of the reality TV landscape. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 51(2), pp. 371-390. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/08838150701307111.
Nabi, R. L.; Biely, E. N.; Morgan, S. J. & Stitt, C. (2003). Reality-based television programming and the psychology of its appeal. Media Psychology, 5 (4), pp. 303-330. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1207/S1532785XMEP0504_01.
Olarinmoye, A.W. & Odunaike, B. (2016). Effects of Big Brother Africa Reality Show on the Social Behaviour of the Lagos State University Students. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Reviews, 6 (2), pp. 131-139. Retrieved from https://www.ijsshr.com/journal/index.php/IJSSHR/article/view/221/198.
Papacharissi, Z. & Mendelson, A. L. (2007). An Exploratory Study of Reality Appeal: Uses and Gratifications of Reality Shows. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 51, pp. 355–370. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838150701307152.
QuestionPro (n.d). Online Surveys: Definition, Characteristics, Examples, Advantages and Disadvantages. QuestionPro. Retrieved from https://www.questionpro.com/blog/what-are-online-surveys/.
Ranger (2020, July 31). With Le250M & Round Trip to Dubai Up For Grabs… Africell & AYV Launch Housemates Salone 2. Sierra Network Salone. Retrieved from https://snradio.net/with-le250m-round-trip-to-dubai-up-for-grabs-africell-ayv-launch-housemates-salone-2/.
Reiss, S. & Wiltz, J. (2004) Why People Watch Reality TV. Media Psychology, 6(4), pp. 363–378. https://doi.org/10.1207/s1532785xmep0604_3.
Rubin, A. M. (1983). Television uses and gratifications: The interactions of viewing patterns and motivations. Journal of Broadcasting, 27, pp. 37-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838158309386471.
Sesay, A.K (2020, August 14). Housemates Salone Season 2 is Set to Be Really Thrilling. The Calabash Newspaper. Retrieved from https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/housemates-salone-season-2-is-set-to-be-really-thrilling/.
Skeggs, B.; Thumim, N. & Wood, H. (2008). ‘Oh Goodness, I am Watching Reality TV’: How Methods Make Class in Audience Research. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 11(1), pp. 5–24. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1367549407084961.
Skeggs, B. & Wood, H. (2012). Reacting to Reality Television: Performance, Audience and Value. London: Routledge.
University of Missouri–St. Louis (n.d). Populations and Sampling. Retrieved from https://www.umsl.edu/~lindquists/sample.html.
Wilfred, O.O.; Grace, N. & Joy, O.I. (2019). Nigeria University Students’ Perception of Reality Programmes on Television. Global Media Journal, 17(32). Retrieved from https://www.globalmediajournal.com/open-access/nigeria-university-students-perception-of-reality-programmes-on-television.php?aid=87447.
Woods, R. H. & Ebersole, S. (2007). Motivations for Viewing Reality Television: A Uses and Gratifications Analysis. Southwestern Journal of Mass Communication. 23(1), pp. 23-42. Retrieved from https://studylib.net/doc/8023379/motivations-for-viewing-reality-television--a-uses-and-gr...
Yoon, M.T. & Garma, R. (2006). Reality Television Programs In Malaysia: A Dream Come True? Sunway Academic Journal 3, pp. 73–86. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/148366316.pdf.
Zhao, X. (2014). Gratifications about Reality Television “The Voice of China” Among Chinese Audience. Master’s Thesis. Graduate School, Bangkok University. Retrieved from http://dspace.bu.ac.th/jspui/handle/123456789/1047.
Apuke, O.D. (2017). Quantitative Research Methods: A Synopsis Approach. Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 6(11), pp. 40-47, DOI: 10.12816/0040336.
Arulchelvan, S. (2019).Understanding Reality Television: A Study of Tamil Television Reality Shows Impact on Audience. Anthropological Researches and Studies, 9(1), pp. 79-86. http://doi.org/10.26758/9.1.8.
AYV Housemates Salone Season 2 (2020, December 13) Housemates Salone Season 2 Finale [Video file]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqSf1z2oguU&t=3027.
Barton, K.M. (2009). Reality Television Programming and Diverging Gratifications: The Influence of Content on Gratifications Obtained, Journal of Broadcasting &Electronic Media, 53(3), pp. 460-476. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838150903102659.
Bhandari, P. (2020, May 14). Population vs Sample: What’s the Difference? Scribbr. Retrieved from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/population-vs-sample/.
Calvert, C. (2004). Voyeur Nation: Media, Privacy, and Peering in Modern Culture, Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Couldry, N. (2003) Media Rituals: A Critical Approach (1st Ed.). London: Routledge.
Demirtaş, M. & Başkaya, A.Z. (2015). Reality TV: A Case Study on Viewing Motives of “O Ses Türkiye” In Light of Media Effects Theories. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/19572903/REALITY_TV_A_CASE_STUDY_ON_VIEWING_MOTIVES_OF_O_SES_T%C3%9CRK%C4%B0YE_IN_LIGHT_OF_MEDIA_EFFECTS_THEORIES.
Deller, R.A. (2020) Reality Television: The Television Phenomenon that Changed the World. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited.
Dunne, A.; Lawlor, M. & Rowley, J. (2010), “Young People’s Use of Online Social Networking Sites a Uses and Gratifications Perspective”, Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 4 (1), pp. 46-58. DOI: 10.1108/17505931011033551.
Folayan, B.J.; Oyetayo, T.M. & Folayan, T.T. (2019). National Interest, Identity and Press Freedom: A study of the Big Brother Nigeria TV Programme: Paper presented at the 6th Annual Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria, 2019, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Retrieved from http://eprints.federalpolyilaro.edu.ng/id/eprint/205.
Hill, A. (2005). Reality TV: Audiences and Popular Factual Television. New York: Routledge.
Kania, K. & Agatha, A. (2011). Online Consumers and the Application of Uses and Gratification Theory Case Study: The Kaskus Website. Journal Communication Spectrum, 1(2). DOI:10.36782/JCS.V1I2.6.
Katz, E.; Blumler, J. G. & Gurevitch, M. (1974). ‘‘Utilization of Mass Communication by the Individual’’, In Blumler, J. G., Katz, E. (ed.) (1974). The Uses of Mass Communications: Current Perspectives on Gratifications Research. Beverly Hills: Sage.
Kemp, S. (2021, February 12). Digital 2021: Sierra Leone. DataReportal. Retrieved from https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2021-sierra-leone.
Kuyucu, M. (2014). TV Broadcasting in Turkey: The Turkish Television Audience in the Frame of Uses and Gratification Approach, Paper presented at the Athens Institute for Education and Research 2014. Retrieved from http://www.atiner.gr/papers/TUR2014-1293.
Lamin, A. (2020, December 15). Saraih Robert wins AYV & Africell’s Housemates Salone Season Two. Sweet Salone.com. Retrieved from https://www.switsalone.com/38027_sariah-roberts-wins-ayv-africells-housemates-salone-season-two/.
Levy, M.R. & Windahl, S. (1985). The Concept of Audience Activity. In Rosengren, K.E.; Wenner, L. A. & Palmgreen, P. (Eds.), Media Gratification Research: Current Perspectives, (pp. 109-122). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Luo, X. (2002). Uses and Gratifications Theory and E-Consumer Behaviors: A Structural Equation Modeling Study. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 2(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15252019.2002.10722060.
McCombes, S. (2019, September 19). An introduction to sampling methods. Scribbr. Retrieved from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/sampling-methods/.
McLeod, J. & Becker, L. (1981). The uses and gratifications approach. In D. Nimmo & K. Sanders (Eds.), Handbook of Political Communication (pp. 67–100). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
McLeod, S. A. (2019, August 03). Sampling methods. Simply Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/sampling.html.
McQuail, D. (2010). Mass communication theory. (6th Ed). London: Sage.
Nabi, R.L. (2007). Determining dimensions of reality: A concept mapping of the reality TV landscape. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 51(2), pp. 371-390. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/08838150701307111.
Nabi, R. L.; Biely, E. N.; Morgan, S. J. & Stitt, C. (2003). Reality-based television programming and the psychology of its appeal. Media Psychology, 5 (4), pp. 303-330. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1207/S1532785XMEP0504_01.
Olarinmoye, A.W. & Odunaike, B. (2016). Effects of Big Brother Africa Reality Show on the Social Behaviour of the Lagos State University Students. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Reviews, 6 (2), pp. 131-139. Retrieved from https://www.ijsshr.com/journal/index.php/IJSSHR/article/view/221/198.
Papacharissi, Z. & Mendelson, A. L. (2007). An Exploratory Study of Reality Appeal: Uses and Gratifications of Reality Shows. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 51, pp. 355–370. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838150701307152.
QuestionPro (n.d). Online Surveys: Definition, Characteristics, Examples, Advantages and Disadvantages. QuestionPro. Retrieved from https://www.questionpro.com/blog/what-are-online-surveys/.
Ranger (2020, July 31). With Le250M & Round Trip to Dubai Up For Grabs… Africell & AYV Launch Housemates Salone 2. Sierra Network Salone. Retrieved from https://snradio.net/with-le250m-round-trip-to-dubai-up-for-grabs-africell-ayv-launch-housemates-salone-2/.
Reiss, S. & Wiltz, J. (2004) Why People Watch Reality TV. Media Psychology, 6(4), pp. 363–378. https://doi.org/10.1207/s1532785xmep0604_3.
Rubin, A. M. (1983). Television uses and gratifications: The interactions of viewing patterns and motivations. Journal of Broadcasting, 27, pp. 37-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838158309386471.
Sesay, A.K (2020, August 14). Housemates Salone Season 2 is Set to Be Really Thrilling. The Calabash Newspaper. Retrieved from https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/housemates-salone-season-2-is-set-to-be-really-thrilling/.
Skeggs, B.; Thumim, N. & Wood, H. (2008). ‘Oh Goodness, I am Watching Reality TV’: How Methods Make Class in Audience Research. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 11(1), pp. 5–24. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1367549407084961.
Skeggs, B. & Wood, H. (2012). Reacting to Reality Television: Performance, Audience and Value. London: Routledge.
University of Missouri–St. Louis (n.d). Populations and Sampling. Retrieved from https://www.umsl.edu/~lindquists/sample.html.
Wilfred, O.O.; Grace, N. & Joy, O.I. (2019). Nigeria University Students’ Perception of Reality Programmes on Television. Global Media Journal, 17(32). Retrieved from https://www.globalmediajournal.com/open-access/nigeria-university-students-perception-of-reality-programmes-on-television.php?aid=87447.
Woods, R. H. & Ebersole, S. (2007). Motivations for Viewing Reality Television: A Uses and Gratifications Analysis. Southwestern Journal of Mass Communication. 23(1), pp. 23-42. Retrieved from https://studylib.net/doc/8023379/motivations-for-viewing-reality-television--a-uses-and-gr...
Yoon, M.T. & Garma, R. (2006). Reality Television Programs In Malaysia: A Dream Come True? Sunway Academic Journal 3, pp. 73–86. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/148366316.pdf.
Zhao, X. (2014). Gratifications about Reality Television “The Voice of China” Among Chinese Audience. Master’s Thesis. Graduate School, Bangkok University. Retrieved from http://dspace.bu.ac.th/jspui/handle/123456789/1047.
Published
2021-05-19
How to Cite
Conteh, B. (2021). Reality TV: A Case Study on Viewing Motives of ‘‘Housemates Salone Season Two’’: Array. Acta Universitatis Danubius. Communicatio, 15(1). Retrieved from https://dj.univ-danubius.ro/index.php/AUDC/article/view/972
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Communication
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