Dubbing and TV: Real Audience Experiences in Italy and Mexico

What is it about?

This article explores how everyday viewers in Italy and Mexico experience and interpret dubbed television—that is, TV shows originally made in one language and adapted into another through dubbing. Focusing on two popular series (The Big Bang Theory and The Walking Dead), the research combines textual analysis of the shows with interviews of 22 viewers who regularly watch them in their dubbed versions. Instead of assuming that dubbing simply masks the “foreignness” of a show, the study investigates how audiences actually think about dubbing, translation quality, and the connection between language and meaning when they watch television in their own languages.

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Photo by Ben Griffiths on Unsplash

Photo by Ben Griffiths on Unsplash

Why is it important?

International television reaches millions of people through translation and adaptation, but we know surprisingly little about what that really means for audiences. This research shows that viewers are aware of dubbing as an active part of the television experience, not just a technical fix. In Mexico, participants linked dubbed shows to cultural distinction and social meaning, seeing dubbing as connected to personal identity and media habits. In Italy, while dubbing remains widespread, younger viewers are more open to original language versions with subtitles. These findings highlight the importance of language, cultural context, and audience practices in how people engage with global television.

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