audiències

An audiència (audiències plural) is a Catalan term that refers to the set of people who observe, listen to, or read a media product or event, as well as to the act of being an audience. The term also appears in legal language to denote a hearing or the court itself, and in some contexts refers to the public reception of a performance or speech.

In media and communications, audiència denotes the audience for a programme or publication. Understanding audiències is essential for broadcasters, publishers, and advertisers, who analyze size and composition to plan content and campaigns. Audience measurement uses metrics such as reach, ratings, share, and engagement. In digital contexts, metrics expand to unique users, page views, time spent, and interactions, enabling targeted content and monetization.

In politics and culture, audiences influence public discourse; political actors and institutions tailor messages to particular demographic or interest groups and seek to maximize engagement and legitimacy.

In law, audiència can mean a public hearing or a court session; it is also the name of higher court bodies in certain jurisdictions (for example, l’Audiència Nacional in Spain), with usage varying by language and country.

Etymology: from Latin audientia, from audire to hear; cognate with Spanish audiencia and Portuguese audiência. In Catalan, usage overlaps with the general sense of audience and with judicial contexts. See also audience, audience measurement, and court-related terms.