NJOMACS

This study examined audience engagement with Family Feud Nigeria in Ekpoma and interpreted the socio-cultural meanings ascribed to the show within the local context, drawing on the theoretical framework of Reception Theory. Employing a cross-sectional descriptive survey design, the study utilized a structured questionnaire comprising 15 close-ended items on a four-point Likert scale. A sample size of 400 respondents was determined from a population of 250,000 using the Krejcie and Morgan sampling table, with 376 valid responses retrieved via Google Forms. Descriptive statistical tools were employed for data analysis. Findings indicate three salient outcomes: first, audience engagement is both affective and participatory, marked by peer recommendation and digital co-viewing; second, programme-inherent variables—timing, pacing, and perceived authenticity—foster sustained attention and emotional identification; third, audience interpretation is significantly influenced by socio-demographic variables, notably age, educational attainment, and cultural affiliation, thereby positioning Family Feud Nigeria as a culturally embedded televisual artefact. The study concludes that reality-based entertainment, while universally appealing, must remain culturally resonant and socially situated. It recommends that: (i) media content producers should periodically assess audience reception in culturally diverse settings like Ekpoma to better understand viewer preferences and patterns of engagement; (ii) programme developers should preserve and deepen the cultural relatability of shows like Family Feud Nigeria by maintaining authentic portrayals of Nigerian family dynamics and everyday humour; and (iii) media scholars should undertake comparative reception studies across different regions to explore how local audiences negotiate meaning and derive enjoyment from nationally broadcast entertainment formats.