THE PROBLEM OF CLASSIFICATION OF THE MODERN BROADCASTING: THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OG THE FORMAT “TALK SHOW”

The ambiguity of the term “talk show” in the practice and theory of television journalism, difficulties in defining television programs like “talk shows” require to discover the essential format`s characteristics by which we could easily find out the broadcast of this type. The article analyzes the definitions of the concept in Russian and foreign dictionaries and also in the scientific literature.The author investigates contentious issues in the definition of the term and essential characteristics of talk show: identification the genre of the conversation which takes place in the studio; the role of a live studio audience in talk; the border of the format. Besides, the term “talk show” is correlated to such categories as “format” and “genre”. The author raises the question about the correctness of the understanding of “talk shows” like the current genre of TV journalism. Finally, on systematizes distinctive characteristics of talk shows, highlighted by different researchers, and offers the list of essential characteristics of the broadcast of this type