Exploring audience interactivity in tv reality shows An analysis of tv3 date rush

Abstract

This study delves into the evolution of the television reality show, TV3 Date Rush, investigating the factors that impact audience interaction and the changing nature of interactivity within the context of a TV reality show. With the rise of social media, fans of popular entertainment programs continue to engage with shows through new and diverse platforms, as part of an increasingly interactive economy. In 2020, TV3 Date Rush pushed the boundaries of this participatory culture by leveraging new forms of media such as Twitter to foster multi-platform consumption by the show's fans. This qualitative research examines audience engagement in live reality events to gain insight into the various aspects of engagement and their relationship to current understandings of interactivity. The methodology used for this study was qualitative content analysis and online observation, which involved the analysis of Twitter posts made by audience, whiles online observation actively observed and analyzed the behavior, interactions, and activities of individuals of TV3 Date rush on Twitter. The theories underpinning this research was the fourth-place theory, Ekman’s Theory of Basic Emotion and Empirical evidence of sentiments and sentiments analysis on social media. The findings suggest that viewers have a greater ability to participate in the production process and hold implications for the future of reality TV experiences. Key Words: Inter/active & Interactivity, Audience, Reality TV Show, TV3 Date Rush, Social Media