How Do Youth Watch Dizi? A Critical Audience Research in the Framework of the New Television Ecosystem in Turkey

Abstract

Digital technologies, which have changed the media environment, have witnessed a significant change with the emergence of OTT platforms in television broadcasting. With the opening of national OTT platforms in Turkey, a change has begun in terms of television production practices and audience preferences/experiences. From this point of view, this study aims to examine the opinions and attitudes of young audiences in Turkey towards watching dizi (Turkish TV drama) on OTT platforms and the consistency of their experiences and practices reflected in their watching behaviours. In this context, two-stage research consisting of survey and focus group interviews was designed. The first stage -an internet survey- determines the differences and similarities of audience experience on the traditional television dizi versus on OTT platform dizi. In the second stage of the study, the research questions were deepened on a limited sample based on the data that half of the dizi audience were between the ages of 18-34, in line with the survey findings. In this context, focus group discussions were held with eighteen participants in three sessions. In the sessions, questions categorized in three themes according to the survey results were asked. The data obtained from both studies were evaluated together; collected under three thematic titles, visualized through tables, and analyzed and interpreted in the context of critical theories prominent in recent audience studies.