(Week 12) Why is reality TV so popular for both programme makers and TV viewers?

During the 90s, the cost of producing drama sitcoms, soap opera and comedy became very high because of which unscripted popular factual programming became a viable economic option Such programmes included infotainment, docu-soaps, lifestyle and reality shows and drew on existing popular genres such as soap operas as well as game shows. By the late 90s and early 2000s the reality shows became successful in both the U.K as well as the U.S.A and drew unprecedented market shares of over 50%, regularly appearing on the Network’s top 20 shows (Hill. A. 2005)
These shows were easy to produce and had a very quick turn-around time, making these very popular with the programme makers. The success of these programmes can be attributed to the use of popular genres and creatively using real people and events in a style of entertainment.

From the viewers’ point of view, it was a genre that was very interesting and easy for viewers to engage with. It was about real-life situations which appeared familiar to them as they were informative and they could see the factual footage emerge in front of them. Moreover, it was easy to watch and audiences could get into it without having to follow the story such as in the case of a sitcom. It appealed to a broad range of occasional viewers who were comfortable with moving in and out of the programme without having to think of the continuity or connection between characters and episodes/seasons of the programmes

In conclusion, reality television is popular with programme makers as they are simple in terms of their production and sometimes cost on one hand and they are informative, entertaining and easy to watch for viewers on the other

References
Hill, A. (2005) The rise of reality TV. In A. Hill, Reality TV: Audiences and Popular Factual Television. (pp. 15 – 40). Oxon: Routledge.