Institutions & Audiences

The popularity of Reality TV

Cartoon © Benrik Pitch

Reality TV: reasons for success

In what ways would this reality sub-genre appeal to the TV institutions (producers and broadcasters)?

Who might watch this kind of show? (age, gender, social class, ethnicity, interest groups, etc)

What uses and gratifications might this show provide for its audience?

Does this tell us anything about the rise of the genre and its increase in popularity over time?

Reality Talent: Audience

Families (light entertainment, prime time Sat night) Young children (slapstick comedy, child performers) Teenagers (teen performers, dance and music) Students (youtube clips, the unexpected, the overnight

phenomenon, cult appeal Over 60s (inclusive, any age can enter) Fans of variety shows Fans of the celebrity judges All backgrounds, wide appeal

Reality Talent:

1. Entertainment + Diversion - it’s fun! And funny! Celebrity judges, conflict, the auditions, the non-talented, the excitement and tension build-up, predictions, gaining a resolution, getting involved

2. Surveillance + Information – understanding of diverse society, learning about the skills, becoming an armchair expert3. Personal relationships – lots to talk about, winners and losers, ‘water

cooler’ moments, comparisons with family and friends, particpating in a national event, bonding

4. Personal identity – could I do it, thank goodness that’s not me, a sense of being better/ more self aware, congratulating others, empathy, real-life stories, identifying oneself with the ‘winners’, being ‘right’, inclusiveness

Uses and gratifications

Reality Talent: Institutional appeal

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 broadcaster’s

‘brand’ generates a massive income for the channel via: sponsorship from advertisers (I’m 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)

Docusoap: Audience

Families (often the focus is a family or a familiar unit) Children (everyday familiarity, comedy) Teenagers/students (teenage representation, diversion) Over 60s (elderly representations, familiarity, comedy) All backgrounds represented, wide appeal

Docusoap: uses + gratifications

1. Entertainment + Diversion - can be very funny! Also gritty and bizarre. Real life conflict, the ordinariness of it, getting to ‘know’ the characters, being nosey, different to own lives, can be shocking at times

2. Surveillance + Information – understanding of diverse society, learning about worlds we know nothing about, ‘behind the scenes’,

becoming an armchair expert3. Personal relationships – lots to talk about, ‘water cooler’ moments,

newspaper headlines and scandals, being in the know, comparisons with family and friends, bonding with others

4. Personal identity – could I do it, thank goodness that’s not me, a sense of being better/ more self aware, empathy and identification, real-life

stories, identifying oneself with certain characters, being ‘right’, inclusiveness, companionship

Docusoap: institutional appeal

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.