Neo late Night: an empirical study of the reasons for watching satirical night shows, using 'Neo Magazin Royale' as example

The satirical late-night show "Neo Magazin Royale", hosted by Jan Böhmermann, is one of the most unconventional and progressive programmes on German television. Most recently, in March 2016, it caused a major stir and sparked heated debate over the so-called "defamatory poem" affair, raising questions about the limits of satire and the boundaries that must be upheld to protect personal rights. In this instance, Jan Böhmermann received almost unconditional support from his audience. This research is based on the question of the composition of the audience, their varying motivations for viewing, and the influence of these motivations on the intensity of their engagement. An online survey was designed based on the Uses and Gratifications approach, in which 536 viewers of the programme took part. The results of the study reveal three distinct usage motives, which reveal different behavioural patterns among the respondents. For example, people who identify with the presenter's socio-political views and humour tend to watch the programme more frequently and generally remain loyal to the format.