Spectacle of Violence: Representation Patterns and News Narratives on Indian Television During Primetime

Violence is not merely a physical act but a socially constructed and culturally reproduced phenomenon, often learned through media experiences. Television news, as a primary source of information and public perception, plays a critical role in shaping narratives around violence. This study investigates how Indian television news channels represent violence during primetime broadcasts. Using content analysis as the primary methodology, a total of 42 hours of news content over seven consecutive days of February 2020 from Republic TV and Times Now were examined. The findings reveal that violent content is not only prevalent but often sensationalized, with representations marked by aggressive panel discussions, hate speech, abusive language, blame games, violent behaviour and biased framing. Rather than acting as a moderating or peace-building role, these news channels tend to reinforce and reproduce violent discourse and misinformation through dramatization and spectacle. The research suggests that such portrayals contribute to the normalization and legitimization of verbal and symbolic violence in the public sphere. This raises significant ethical and professional concerns regarding the role of news media in a democratic society.