Towards active television audience: analysis of rtük citizenship notifications report

There have been many studies on television and viewers since the invention of television. Traditional television broadcasting sees viewers "passive". Television is a tool to inform and entertain the viewers and usable only in homes. However, after the increasing momentum of technological development, the viewers became active "consumers" instead of their passive role, according to traditionalists. Digitalization of broadcasting and inclusion of internet, which made television more interactive, led to significant changes in both broadcasting field and viewer culture. This change also caused differences in television-viewing habits. The interactivity increased by a lot after the development of the television and internet. Television is no more bound to a location, in fact, it became so small that people started to carry smart phones on them allowing them to watch television. It has become an easily accessible cultural tool with no restrictions on time and location. Hand in hand with the changes in television-viewing practices, the viewer's position also changed, the viewer started to participate in the content, in fact, they have became a powerful supervisor. The "2016 Annual Viewer Notification Report" states the responsibility is shared with the viewers and the viewers are tasked with supervision, thus, making them participants. The active viewer fulfilled their role by using all of the technological tools available, and undertaking the concept of interactivity. Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) set up various notification centers to allow immediate notification of any sensitive program, host or guest. The viewers have used the complaint platforms like ALO RTÜK, the website, BIMER, CIMER, actively to notify the relevant institutions about sensitive material or recommendations, sometimes even in an organized manner. The study is based an analyse the "RTÜK 2016 Annual Viewer Notification Report" and conduct in-depth interviews with RTÜK officials to understand how the viewers are using these platforms. The study aims to investigate the changing television-viewing habits, the viewers transition process to an active position, and the concept of interactivity the developing technology offers to the viewers, furthermore, how the viewer uses these.