Is Reality TV Dead?

In their infancy, shows like Big Brother would reel in millions of viewers on a daily basis and the trend continued for some years. However with Big Brother being shown in countries world wide and it now reaching its tenth anniversary this year, when is enough enough?

It has not been without its fair share of scandals, a fight between all of the house mates and a race row can the show really be justified anymore? After all, watching people sitting around, cooking and sleeping isn’t my idea of entertainment, and the drop in viewing figures from the early years seem to suggest the same. It is no longer a new genre that excites people, it is common place and time for something new and fresh to take its place.

Some shows of a similar genre such as ‘Dancing on Ice’ and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ have a longer shelf life, with Strictly Come Dancing being revived after years off the television. However other shows such as ‘Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!’ also have a shelf life and can be over used.

Reality tv has been described as ‘dumbed down tv’ as there is no real thought or interaction when watching. A variety of tv is good to keep things interesting and the mass production of cheap reality tv will no longer win the viewers as they once did. In a time when money is tight, cheap television is favourable but a satuation of reality tv is not healthy. Reviewing wages and production costs will allow televison stations to make shows for the audience which engage, educate and entertain without costing millions.