- 1. InstitutionsReality TV and the Television Industry Cartoon
Benrik Pitch
2. How popular is reality TV?
- Annette Hill: media theorist and expert in the rise of reality
tv
- Reality TV is so popular across the public in Britain that
sometimes more than half the population are watching one reality TV
show.
3. A Week in Reality TV an overview
- In a single week in January 2011:
- 41 different reality titles were broadcast on Freeview channels
alone
- at least 12 of these programmes were screened daily
- a number were repeated in different time slots throughout the
day.
4. Useful website
- http://www.tvguide.co.uk/
5. How popular is reality TV? 6.
- Can you account for the rise in the popularity of Reality
TV?
7. Reality Television is...
- A response to changes in technology and economic crisis in the
world of broadcasting:
-
- the arrival of TV for mass audiences in the US and then the
UK
-
- lots of new programmes needed and shows which involve the
audience
-
- new lightweight cameras create new types of documentary: the
real people on TV show is born
-
- daytime TV launches in the UK more programmes needed to fill
the schedules!
-
- strikes and crises in the broadcasting industry lead to less
drama, more real people TV, from talk shows to docusoaps
-
- the digital revolution begins!
-
- new satellite, cable and digital channels arrive!
8. Why is the Reality genre popular with TV broadcasters? 9. Sub
Genre example 1:The Reality Talent Show
- Competition auditions, tension, conflict, skills
development
- A format recognisable, familiar, same but different
- Talent (or not) entertainment and diversion its fun!
- Celebrity judges, real-life personal stories or journeys
- Inclusiveness anyone can enter
- A long-term process building to a mega-event
- A vote and a winner resolution!
- Examples :The X Factor ,Britains Got Talent
- why is this sub-genre popular with broadcasters?
10. Sub-genre example 2:The Docusoap a hybrid of observational
documentary and soap opera
- Vets in Practice: narratives around vets, suffering pets, and
their owners and the drama, highs and lows of the daily life of a
veterinary practice.
- Traffic Cops:motorway stories, seen from the point of view of
the daily work of traffic police.Click for Traffic Cops
- The Family :28-camera set-up records the minutiae of everyday
family life over 8 months. Massively edited into a highly
constructed narrative. Series 1 observational with voiceover,
focusing on small moments of family conflict set entirely within
the home; Series 2 incorporates talking heads, interview and more
continuing story strands, with external footage.Click for The
Family (clip 1) ;Click for The Family (clip 2) .
- :Why is this sub-genre popular with broadcasters?
11. Sub-Genre example 3:The Social Experiment Show
- A people experiment where a situation is set up and observed,
e.g.Wife Swapconflicting class values and life-styles within the
home exploring parenting, social relationships, domestic
organisation, gender roles, work, etc.
- Blood Sweat and T-shirts assumptions of affluent Western teens
challenged through experience of harsh lives of other
cultures.
- Secret Millionaire a social experiment with positive
outcomes.
- The Choirencouraging participation; teaching boys to enjoy
singing; uniting divided communities; mending Broken Britain
through song.
- why is this sub-genre popular with broadcasters?
12. Sub-genre example 1: The Reality Talent Show
- Added value for the Broadcasters
- long-running occupies many hours of air-time, and builds to
climax
- endlessly recyclable format, which can be copyrighted
- huge audiences, national profile, can generate massive tabloid
promotion
-
- Lots of opportunities for spin-off programmes; The Xtra Factor
etc
- can use celebrity judges already associated with the
broadcasters brand
- generates a massive income for the channel via:
-
- sponsorship from advertisers (Im A Celebrity/Iceland)
-
- revenue from voting process
-
- Sales of advertising space/airtime major family brands
-
- % of sales/profits made after the series is over (The X-Factor
Tour, album etc)
13. Sub-genre example 2:The Docusoap a hybrid of observational
documentary and soap opera
- Added value for Broadcasters
-
- after initial set-up, relatively cheap to produce
-
- no costs for screenwriters, actors are free, no need to build
sets
-
- ongoing ready-made drama, with inbuilt storylines, keeps
audiences coming back
-
- information content; opportunities for spin-off shows, viewer
interaction, debate .
14. Sub-genre example 3:The Social Experiment Show
- Added value for the Broadcasters
-
- usually a worthwhile socially useful mission
-
- can be useful in promoting campaigns, charities, raising
awareness of social issues
-
- can change the way people think and behave towards each
other
-
- therefore good for the reputation of the producers/channel
15.
- Added value for the Broadcasters
-
- relatively cheap to produce, no paid actors, no sets or just
one set
-
- long-running occupies many hours of air-time, including
spin-offs
-
- audience loyalty as the series builds to climax
-
- endlessly recyclable format, which can be copyrighted and
franchised globally
-
- huge audiences, national profile, can generate massive tabloid
promotion
-
- generates a massive income for the channel via:
-
-
- sales of advertising space to major brands at prime-time
-
-
- sponsorship from advertisers
-
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- revenue from voting process
Summary of benefits to the industry