The Future of "Reality" TVAnything that makes a splash like the "Reality TV" boom is bound to bring out the skeptics. What's most interesting about this hot genre in programming is that the skeptics are both the buyer and the seller. The viewing audience and the Networks both ask the fearful question, "How long can this last?"The irony is that both continue to tune in, as well as produce and promote new shows. The creators and producers of these shows are people that think "outside the box" to begin with, and many have been vocal in explaining that the format of reality programming only broadens the possibilities of various forms of hybrid shows. It's the same thing we've witnessed with scripted shows over the past decade- Rules are broken and new forms are accepted. There has always been an appetite for event-type programming. And when real people are involved, viewers will watch with the same addictive appetite as those who are hooked on soap operas. What's more powerful in reality-based programming is that even though the situations are set up and manipulated to guarantee a result for content, we are watching people with real emotions in circumstances that create real drama. As long as we continue to be fascinated with the human condition, and have an appetite for entertainment, there will always be some evolving format of a reality show. Also of current issue with Reality TV programmers is the pressure brought on by large advertising corporations, who previous to reality tv knew exactly what content they were investing in. For example, if an advertiser is buying ad time from NBC during a "Friends" episode, they know the exact market to be viewing, and the content that will be delivered. With limited run reality series, and many that have been social experiments or practical jokes, Advertisers have been critical of the amount of scheduling a Network head will reserve for Reality TV Shows as opposed to developing new hit scripted shows. But what neither can escape is the public appetite for the genre. As a result, we've seen, and will continue to see new reality-based formats that carry a brand product integral to the story or content of the show. This gives the advertiser some participation in the content of the show, and many times brings Ad dollars to offset budgets that may otherwise keep a show from going into a production. For this reason, it is of critical importance that the creators and writers of reality TV shows keep advertiser involvement in mind when developing a concept to sell. The following are quotes from the top executives in the entertainment industry to give you an insiders perspective on the current state and future of Reality TV: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The genre of reality television has broadened out to a point where it's no longer one or the other. It's like saying that because the Simpsons does so well there's only so much of an audience for animation. It's all just entertainment" Mike Darnell - Sr. VP Alternative Series, Fox Network -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I was producing reality shows before the boom, and I'll be producing them after the boom. I constantly look for new ways to twist and turn the genre in different directions so reality TV remains unpredictably delicious. You have to continue to reinvent yourself in this business to stay on top". Bruce Nash - Nash Entertainment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "After all the hand-wringing in the press about reality TV, the simple fact is that when an inspirational show like "American Idol" can galvanize an audience of this size, it's good for broadcast television." Sandy Grushow - Chairman, Fox Television Entertainment Group / Daily Variety- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "There's no way the networks are going to ignore a genre that has this kind of appeal. Our 18-34 numbers are up across the board, and we credit that to "The Bachelor" as a promotional platform for other scripted shows." Susan Lyne - President, ABC Entertainment TV Group -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOME
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