Television interpreting is perceived by researchers and professional interpreters as one of the most challenging fields of interpreting. Television frameworks and broadcasters’ needs and goals impact on the interpreter’s work and performance. Television genres, their hybridisation and steady development require interpreters to display a sharp ability to adapt by complying with the main goal of television programmes, i.e. captivating viewers and prevent them from switching to another channel through a carefully administered level of entertainment. Against this backdrop, we review the research detailing the characteristics of television interpreting, the various television settings requiring interpreting services and their impact on the interpreter’s work and output. Audience-oriented interpreting activity re-shapes the interpreter’s professional ethics and role, favouring the emergence of new situated quality standards and norms.
