Lesson Four - Reality TV

Introduction

Lesson Four - Reality TV
Duration - 2 blocks (2 x 80 min + homework)

"Reality TV is based on the theory that people will always look at an accident on the freeway. It's so base, so animalistic now. They're building up an audience block by dumbing down the culture. It's depressing." - Tom De Lisle, television producer and writer

"Taste questions aside, there are several business reasons that the television networks are developing reality shows. Union contracts covering Hollywood's actors and writers expire this spring and summer. If either or both groups hit the picket line, television production will stop. Virtually everybody involved says they hope a strike won't happen, but many are pessimistic. The networks candidly admit that the new reality shows are being developed as insurance against a strike.

The other business reason is "synergy" -- a biz-school phrase that has been increasingly heard as the country's major communications companies merge into ever-larger conglomerates. On Popstars, for example, the girl group that is finally assembled will release its music on a Warner Bros.-affiliated record label. And the group will be promoted on America Online, which is in the process of merging with Time-Warner, which owns both the network and the record label.

Long range, some are wondering what all of this means for the future." - January 9, 2001, The Detroit News