But while always characterized by live broadcasting, media events evoke at least three different realities. This essay focuses on media events of the third sort, events that are consciously integrative and deliberately constructed with a view of orchestrating a consensus. They are public rituals, emotional occasions. Formally they disrupt television syntax. In terms of their pragmatics they are viewed by festive communities.
Audiences prepare themselves for the event, gather, dress up, display their emotions.
In order for a media event to trigger a collective experience, each of these partners must actively endorse it. No broadcasting organization can unilaterally decide to mount a ceremonial event. This decision is generally that of national, supranational or religious institutions. The authority invested in such institution is what turns events that are essentially gestures, into more than gesticulations. Yet, television is not infeodated to these institutions.