Games shows, are what really started the genre of Reality TV and made it what it is today. Hills (2005, p.31) states that “the reality game show has become an international bestseller since its arrival in 2000.” Before 2000, there were a few games shows on TV, which soon escalated into reality game shows today you will find them everywhere. Pick up your remote and you will bombarded with them. Games shows such as Who wants to be a millionaire, Deal or No Deal, American Idol, XFactor, etc. have taken the world by storm. It is all thanks to the games shows that these shows have been created. American Idol had such success that many shows like it have been made such as Britain's got talent, XFactor. even shows like The Apprentice, The amazing race, Fear Factor, Big Brother, dancing with the stars, Americas funniest home videos have been copied and watched all over the world because of the 'game show' like appeal. Without Games shows, Reality TV probably wouldn't of taken off as it has, games shows showed networks what audiences really wanted, there is something about the intentness of it all that makes viewers keep watching, and what better way than to have a tv show where you have to watch week after week to see you will be eliminated next like top mode, idol, etc.
Why is Reality TV so popular for both programme makers and TV viewers?
Reality TV has a certain spark about it. It attracts viewers no matter how trashy it is. They keep coming back for more, whether it is because of the drama, the suspense or because it is a secret look into the lives of others, no one knows why they keep watching, but Networks are going crazy for it. When something happens on these reality shows; like keeping up with the kardashians, the Bachelor, Daisy Rock of love, it isnt the media who find out about first, it is the audience, and it does feel pretty powerful to get a first look before anyone else. (well thats what it feels like anyway)
“This interactive aspect of Reality TV could be seen as placing the control of media, in the hands of the people who watch it” (Week 12 PPT) With shows like American Idol and XFactor, they give audiences the chance to vote, which makes them feel like they are apart of the show, so they vote and vote and vote, causing them to keep watching. This is what any TV network and programme makers hope for, their show is being constantly watched and talked about. The thing about reality tv is that, it is everyones guilty little pleasure, so it is not surprise that they get way more ratings than the typical soap Oprah on TV, even on the same prime time slot, Reality always wins, especially when celebrities are involved. This public advertising is why TV Makers love it, no matter what, people are going to watch.
References -
Hill, A. (2005) The rise of reality TV. In A. Hill, Reality TV: Audiences and Popular Factual Television. (pp. 15 – 40). Oxon: Routledge.
Hello again Hayley,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post.
Do you think pre-2000 games shows can be referred to as "reality TV" also? Could you elaborate on the "game show appeal" and 'intentness of it all' in terms of why game shows appealed to viewers and why it is "Thanks to all the game shows" we have our current amount of mordern game shows and reality TV?
Esther :)