Analyzing prime time news in the context of uses and gratifications approach

Television as a product of modern technology is a magic box that deeply affects societies at all time and space. Television uses images and sounds to communicate at the same time, live as a witness to events and having advantages and the experience to viewers as opposed to pre-modern communication means. It has a different position over the other mass media because of transmitting video and sound simultaneously. In its early broadcasting times television content was mainly used for transmission of news and educational purposes. In the course of time, development of technology has paved the way for a change in the use of existing functions and made the television an important apparatus for entertainment and leisure time. The study?s main theme is to introduce audience preferences, especially receiving prime time news in context of uses and gratifications approach. Television is a medium which can bring up the news and the news events at the same time they occur. The time between the event and the broadcasting is `zero?. It is a medium that has an advantage to transmit and reach to its audience instantly. It is using this advantage in a wide range of ways. News has been described as prestigious program for any channel in television broadcasting. According to this approach television channels attribute extra attention to the news, news programs and newsrooms. In this study the motivations that derive viewer to watch television to satisfy their needs and in particular prime time news usage is analyzed through fieldwork conducted in Eskişehir.