Week 12

Hi, everyone, this is my final Post. Good luck for exams… (^-^)…

Why is reality TV so popular for both programme makers and TV viewers?

After I have finish read the material that lecture have provide online, I found there are few attractions for audience when they choose reality TV programme.

First of all, I think reality TV has a broad and profound knowledge which make people learn different knowledge while they are relaxing, even does not need to go worldwide.

According Hill, A (2005) have mentioned in the first paragraph, there are main strands to the development of popular factual television, and these related to these areas of media production: tabloid journalism, documentary television and popular entertainment.(pg 94) as we all know three main media have already covered everything around human` society. According to the same page John Fisk have described ,The tabloid Journalism it's a intersection between public and private life, or relevant stories to human`s life, its sensational to people, which as a mirror reflection to human/audience`s normal life, even more touching while people really into it for some programme. The documentary television its related to tabloid TV as well, however its more high quality and less populist form of programme in reality TV field, compared to the traditional documentary, the new documentary television more focused on public new, current affairs, the documentary television has been called as a real mark of public service commitment. Back to the question, I think audience also can gain lots of benefits and daily news in realism `s aspect from this documentary genre. Last but not least, The popular entertainment it's the development of factual TV, it’s more as a talk shows, game show, sports and leisure programme. Again, as pg98 mentioned, the game show format its attractive viewer because the big reward at the end, the knowledge and skills people have used inside of the game. The extremely survive for both physically and emotionally.

According Hill (2005) `s words in pg 98 he says “in Britain, leisure and instructional programming in the 1970s were about gardening, cooking, dress making and DIY. All associated with ‘skills acquisitions. Finally, he states the soap opera or melodrama it's the genre help people enjoy and relaxing for the day.

Then, there are also some benefits for the Reality TV`S producers. Such as, pg 97 have mentioned the game show its ‘cheap and easy to produce’ and ‘extremely exportable’. I think those two reasons are the main point produces willing to make more Reality TV.



How does new-media (the internet, cell-phone technology, etc) play a significant role in the success of reality TV, as well as cult TV series such as Buffy?

As the Hill (2005) `s materials has point out the new-media (such as, the internet, cell phone technology, etc) as the conveyer between audiences to reality TV producers. These new-media related reality TV more close to viewer and producers. Especially for some game shows, such as: pop stars, American Idols programme. According the resources Hills (2005) have provided to us on page 103. He take UK `s Reality TV as a example, ‘Over 7 million viewers telephoned Channel 4`s hotline to vote for winner, which break the record for UK TV programme. As for the website, it received 3 million page impressions each day, which made it Europe’s top website during the summer of 2000’.

This example has point out people use new-media communicate with Reality TV producers instead of old ways. This is much direct and free, even faster than old ways helped people to expresses their true ideas and acquisitions about the Reality TV. The producers also can get the viewer wants ,desires, therefore to produce more successful Reality TV shows to satisfied viewer’s needs during the day and night, without time limitations as well.

Take cult TV Buffy as an example, the new- media to Buffy studies not only the producers `s field, but also viewers. Try to think about if there is no new-medias involved in our society, would the Reality TV or culture TV developed so fast? I think the answer definitely it’s ‘NO’. Because the ‘True Blood, Twilight, and Vampire Dairy’ such stories it’s very popular in youth viewer’s world. They are willing to use new-medias to discuss with each other, even form up to specific group or community to discuss it more. As new media provide the fast speed to the world and free contribution spaces to human’s society, more and more people felt it holding the important position in our daily lives.

So, Above all, I think the new-media plays a important role in success of reality TV, cult TV as well, which it’s a useful tool use for communicate with viewers world-wisely.

Reference List:

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