History, evolution, audience and thematic agenda of the televised electoral debates in Spain within the European context

Abstract

This research analyses the history, evolution, audiences and thematic agenda of the televised electoral debates in Spain, comparing them with those held in France, Germany and UK. It aims to observe the possible similarities and differences within the audio-visual, political and legal European context. A quantitative and qualitative study of the audiences has been conducted, comparing the national and regional results with those of the most viewed shows in the year of celebration of every debate. Moreover, their thematic blocks and public agenda. To conclude, in the case of Spain the relative audience of the televised debates is remarkable. In the case European context, it is necessary to highlight the lack of evenness and harmonization in the formats, due to both the diversity of the political and party systems in each country and the lack of specific electoral laws in the national states and the own European Union.