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Quality perception of entertainment TV shows in Spain: production values. The aim of this paper is to analyse which production values are more determinant regarding the audience’s quality perception with respect to different types of entertainment television genres. In order to develop this study, we have taken into account production values such as the creative and technical quality, the host, the set and the content. The main source of data for this empirical study is an original survey. The target population consisted of the Spanish population and the sample was designed to be representative. The results show that in spite of the emergence of the connected TV –resulting from the convergence of television and the internet–, which is profoundly changing the audiovisual market, the cornerstone of their business remains the same: content quality.

Resumen El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido indagar cuáles son las creencias de los espectadores hacia las series de televisión y las reacciones afectivas que estas provocan. Las creencias tenidas en cuenta se refieren a distintos aspectos: diálogos, tramas, actores, personajes, originalidad y variedad, complejidad, moralidad y calidad. En lo que se refiere a las reacciones afectivas hacia las series, se incluyen la cercanía cultural, la resonancia personal, la elaboración cognitiva y la actitud general. La metodología empleada ha consistido en el análisis exhaustivo de diez series de televisión, cinco españolas (Aída, Cuéntame, El internado, Águila Roja y Física o Química) y cinco norteamericanas (CSI, Friends, House, Mujeres desesperadas y Perdidos) mediante la información procedente de una encuesta telefónica realizada a 1000 personas. Los resultados indican que las creencias influyen en la calidad percibida. Los aspectos más relevantes son los diálogos, las tramas, los actores y los personajes. En relación con las reacciones afectivas, los tres elementos considerados (cercanía cultural, resonancia personal y elaboración cognitiva) apenas están relacionados con la actitud general o preferencia por la serie. Las conclusiones ponen de manifiesto que la calidad percibida viene determinada por la combinación de los diferentes factores considerados y que no existe una única configuración que dé lugar a una percepción positiva de la calidad. La contribución original del artículo a la literatura radica en la presentación y aplicación de un modelo teórico que permite determinar con detalle las creencias y actitudes de los telespectadores hacia las series de ficción televisiva. Abstract The aim of this paper has been to inquire into what viewers’ beliefs are towards television shows and the affective reactions they elicit. The beliefs considered refer to aspects such as dialogs, plots, actors, characters, originality and variety, complexity, morality and quality. Regarding affective reactions towards TV series, they include cultural closeness, personal resonance, cognitive elaboration and general attitude. The method used consisted in the exhaustive analysis of ten television shows, five Spanish (Aída, Cuéntame, El internado, Águila Roja and Física o Química) and five North American (CSI, Friends, House, Desperate Housewives and Lost) using information from a telephone survey of 1,000 people. Results indicate that beliefs influence perceived quality. The most relevant aspects are dialogs, plots, actors and characters. In relation to affective reactions, the three elements considered (cultural closeness, personal resonance and cognitive elaboration) are hardly related to the general attitude towards or preference for the TV series. Conclusions show that perceived quality is determined by the combination of the various factors considered and that there is no single configuration that gives rise to a positive perception of quality. The article’s original contribution to the literature lies in the presentation and application of a theoretical model that allows to determine in detail the beliefs and attitudes of viewers towards fictional television shows. Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi indagar quais são as crenças dos espectadores em relação às séries de televisão e às reações afetivas que elas provocam. As crenças consideradas se referem a diferentes aspectos: diálogos, tramas, atores, personagens, originalidade e variedade, complexidade, moralidade e qualidade. No que tange as reações afetivas em relação às séries, elas incluem a proximidade cultural, a ressonância pessoal, a elaboração cognitiva e a atitude geral. A metodologia consistiu em uma análise exaustiva de dez séries de televisão, cinco espanholas (Aída, Cuéntame, El internado, Águila Roja e Física o Química) e cinco americanas (CSI, Friends, House, Desperate Housewives e Lost) por meio de informações procedentes de uma pesquisa telefônica realizada com 1.000 pessoas. Os resultados indicam que as crenças influenciam a qualidade percebida. Os aspectos mais relevantes são os diálogos, as tramas, os atores e os personagens. Em relação às reações afetivas, os três elementos considerados (proximidade cultural, ressonância pessoal e elaboração cognitiva) estão apenas relacionados à atitude geral ou preferência pela série. As conclusões mostram que a qualidade percebida é determinada pela combinação dos diferentes fatores considerados e que não há uma configuração única que dê origem a uma percepção positiva de qualidade. A contribuição original do artigo para a literatura está na apresentação e aplicação de um modelo teórico que permite determinar detalhadamente as crenças e atitudes dos telespectadores em relação às séries de ficção televisiva.

This article examines perceived television quality by considering the role played by viewers’ concerns about television content. These concerns are classified into two categories: pragmatic and moral. The research question is analysed empirically for Spain. Results show that pragmatic concerns are more important for the audience than moral concerns both in 2008 and 2012. Both types of factors are considered to have worsened their development in this period. However, general perception of television quality in Spain has improved between 2008 and 2012. This is associated to a more positive opinion regarding national public service television, but to a more negative perception of the quality of television channels.

The aim of this paper is to analyse which production values are more determinant regarding the audience’s quality perception with respect to different types of entertainment television genres. In order to develop this study, we have taken into account production values such as the creative and technical quality, the host, the set and the content. The main source of data for this empirical study is an original survey. The target population consisted of the Spanish population and the sample was designed to be representative. The results show that in spite of the emergence of the connected TV –resulting from the convergence of television and the internet–, which is profoundly changing the audiovisual market, the cornerstone of their business remains the same: content quality.