Group presentation

REALITY

TELE

VISIO

N

A

PPEAL TO

CO

LLEGE

STUD

ENTS

OVERVIEW

History of Reality TV Agenda Settings A look at the demographic and how they utilize the

medium Social media and its influence on Reality TV Reality TV and its impact

Politically Economically Socially

Conclusion Questions

HISTORY OF REALITY TELEVISION

Reality Television: Television programs in which real people are continuously filmed, designed to be entertaining rather than informative.

–Oxford Dictionary

AGENDA SETTINGS

Reality Television has a profound effect on intercultural communication

Images portrayed on reality television shows contribute to what viewers deem important in relevant in everyday society

Programming editors support reality television shows that portray intercultural misunderstanding, intergroup conflict, and cultural differences. Conflict and drama make for good television

Reality televisions shows with this subject matter are often far more successful than shows depicting cultural understanding, intergroup harmony, and cultural similarity

Reality television shows showcase images and ideas that become important in our society

Viewers who frequent reality shows may develop an misunderstanding of American culture

Networks manipulate viewers to reap profits Viewers interested in reality television are

constantly exposed to commercial products Reality television shows influence viewers to

participate in a culture of consumerism Not all reality television shows have a negative

influence on their viewership For the most part, this form of media

programming has fallen short of its potential

DEMOGRAPHICS

THE COLLEGE STUDENT

The primary target audience for most television programs (and any type of electronic media really) range in the age group of about 18 – 25

College students use television as an outlet for relaxation and leisure

Television itself is evolving as a medium, and the young adult demographic is taking full advantage of it i.e. Netflix, hulu, YouTube

The “Internet Television” appeal is what is allowing television itself to prosper as a medium – you don’t even have to own a television anymore to watch it

% Watch Reality Television Frequently by Age/Sex

College Students’ Second-Screen Activities% of respondents, indicating what they typically do on a second screen while watching TV

SOCIAL MEDIA

Reality TV has expanded all throughout the media industry. Viewers are now often seen tweeting, texting, and blogging about what it is that they are watching.

A lot of shows are now including various activities by encouraging viewers to engage in web based video footage, photos, programs summaries and reviews, online discussions and voting.

In 2012 CBS released a new idea that really inspired and influenced their audience to engage in more social media with a new website called Big Brother Connect.

This new website forms live social streams, a new web chat, expanded videos, a chance for the audience to see their tweets appear while the show is streaming live on Thursday nights, and a twitter game called “Flock to Unlock”

“Flock to Unlock” allows fans to use twitter to access exclusive photos from inside the house. The photos are taken by that specific week’s Head of Household. Once a certain amount of fans are seen tweeting #BigBrotherHoH, CBS will unlock the photos for everyone to see on their website.

So basically what CBS is doing is encouraging viewers to use social media to get their name out there and in return, fans will get a good look at the exclusive photos of the week.

Not only does a social medium give the audience a chance to feel closer to their show of choice, but it also gives them a sense of connectivity to other viewers.

A solid 51% of people like to post on social networks while watching their shows to feel connected to others watching.

With the click of a couple buttons a viewer can observe what it is that their friends are saying about the show, it gives everyone a great chance to express themselves for others to see.

We all know that ONE person who is constantly tweeting or posting on facebook about their favorite show while watching it live.

As crazy as it may sound, only 41% of people watching are actually tweeting about the show that they are currently watching.

When referring to social media as a whole, 76% of people are posting about shows while watching them live and 67% of the audience is on social media but only to view the opinions of others to get a different perspective.

Due to all of the involvement in social media, reality television has developed into a complex multi-media platform.

Everyone knows of the Jersey Shore and the impact it had on society today, but what a lot of people don’t know is that the Jersey Shore broke records for the most social television show of all time.

According to a report from SocialGuide, a website that covers social media statistics. The Jersey Shore had over 190,000 viewers talking about the show, and making about 300,000 comments during the premiere.

56% of the social audience commented during the airtime which was only during primetime.

When even comparing the primetime premiere to other airtimes throughout that specific day, The Jersey Shore had a breaking record of all comments made during all TV airtime at 65%.

In 2011, The Jersey Shore was ranked number one for the most social programs and episodes.

When talking about social media’s relation to the Jersey Shore, it seems that twitter was the primary platform.

During the day about 4,000 tweets are trending about the shows premiere and continue to grow as the day goes on.

Once 10:00 p.m ET comes and the show is streaming, tweets rise to about 16,000 tweets per hour of what is happening during the current episode. 21% of tweets are coming from New Jersey or New York.

POLITICAL IMPACT Reality TV tends to carry a liberal bias. Since its creation, MTV

has been aimed at a youthful liberal demographic.

Reality TV shows such as The Real World, Jersey Shore, and Big Brother use racial stereotypes for entertainment purposes and casting is a thorough process to make sure issues of race and culture will be addressed.

In reference to casting The Real World:

“The producers select potential elements of racial conflict and misunderstanding, setting up possible versions of reality for the show.”

-Reality TV: Remaking Television Culture

Issues of race in reality have gone to court: Claybrooks v. ABC

Tendency to associate racism with rural conservatives rather than urban liberals.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

THE ECONOMICS OF REALITY TELEVISION Reality TV represents a very valuable market for TV networks due to it’s high viewership and low cost of production.

While a single actor for a hit scripted TV can make upwards of 800,000 dollars, reality TV actors make far less. For instance the stars of the Jersey Shore, a show that generates a viewership of more than 4.4 million mostly young people, only make a couple hundred dollars per episode.

Larger networks can place their reality TV on their smaller channels or channels that specialize in reality TV to generate overall viewership and not have to sacrifice big network shows.

It is easy to incorporate product placement into the show and make it seem organic thus generating more money in advertising.

These shows have proven they have staying power by continuing to remain on air for extremely long periods of time and receive a cult like viewership.

The shows can stay on air longer throughout the year because there is the ability to constantly keep it fresh and no need for scripts.

PRODUCT PLACEMENT Due to the unscripted and natural feel of reality TV, product placement is

coming into much more use because it feels organic.

It has become easy for products to be integrated quietly into the lives of the people we watch and viewers are more comfortable seeing these people use these products.

Actors on reality TV are much more willing to use these products on their show than actual actors. While actual actors worry about their art and long term value, for the most part reality TV stars are more concerned with immediate rewards.

In a recent study of the top ten shows with product placement, nine of the ten shows were reality TV programs.

Some shows are even starting to become sponsored such as the hit TV show Top Chef were all the tools and cooking instruments are carefully chosen as product placement.

Complete sponsorship of a reality show can cost about three million dollars or a partial between one and two million.

As a result of this new humongous profit income, networks continue to create more and more reality TV programs.

THE NEW REALITY TV ECONOMY: ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND REBUILDING Two reality TV shows, The Shark Tank and America’s next

great Restaurant focus on helping people start new lives and new jobs.

These shows represent growth in our economy not only in the TV business but also in the goal of entrepreneurship and new business.

This new area of Reality TV where business meets reality TV can also be seen with TV shows like Pawn Stars and Storage Wars, shows that were meant to show the decline of our economy.

This new wave of shows hope to have a more positive outlook and hope to help America while others watch on.

Other shows such as Extreme Home Makeover have the benefit of helping others in the same way as the two previously stated shows while at the same time integrating design reality TV into its core to bring in more viewers.

THE GLOBAL ALLURE

Due to the overwhelming success of reality TV in the US, reality TV has spread throughout the world and thus affects the global economy as well.

In Latin America, the last decade has seen all kinds of reality shows from survival shows to image change shows, with dedicated reality TV channels such as True TV.

From singing contests to talent quests to cooking competitions, consumers in the Asia-Pacific region are being bombarded with reality TV programs almost every night of the week.

Young Indian audiences are so enamored with reality television that they will not watch the dramas so dear to their parents.

SOCIAL IMPACT Most college-age students don’t

like to admit they watch as much reality TV as they do because they don’t want that “social stigma” associated with it.

Many watch because they can identify with the characters, even though they consider reality TV a “break from reality” rather than a representation of reality.

Reality TV fits a college-student’s lifestyle and habits.

Studies suggest that watching reality TV affects the viewers self-esteem.

What about reality TV is most important to a college student?

1. character relationships2. conflicts and arguments

Parasocial Relationships and Zillmann’s disposition theory

Reality TV fits a college-student’s lifestyle and habits.

Studies suggest that watching reality TV affects the viewers self-esteem.

THE FUTURE OF REALITY TV

QUESTIONS

1.Do you notice Reality TV shows exaggerating stereotypes?

2.Is there a stigma attached to watching Reality TV?

3.Does watching Reality TV create an educational experience, exposing you to new cultures and lifestyles, or will it always fall into that cheap, guilty pleasure category?

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Hall, A. (2006). Viewers' perceptions of reality programs. Communication Quarterly, 54(2), 191-211.

Lundy, L. (2008). Simply irresistible: Reality tv consumption patterns. Communication Quarterly, 56(2), 208-225.

Ho, H. (2006). That could be me: Parasocial identification, reality television, and viewer self-worth. Conference Papers -- International Communication Association.

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