Why do we watch reality tv?
, Reality TV genres
• Documentary style:
• Camera crews follow the daily interactions of people in ordinary places, or follow
people in a specific profession (e.g., Made in Chelsea, Georgie Shore, The Only Way
Is Essex).
• Extraordinary people:
• Focuses on the lifestyle / amazing feats of extraordinary people (e.g., Guinness
World Records Primetime).
• Historical re-creation:
• Takes modern-day contestants and puts them in the lifestyle of historical people or
places (e.g., Living in the Past, Edwardian Farm, Victorian Farm).
• Science:
• Documents scientific analysis or exploration first-hand (e.g., The Crocodile Hunter,
Mythbusters).
• Dating:
• Couples or singles are brought together in dating or romantic situations (e.g., Blind
Date, Love Island)
• Law enforcement, rescue, and military; Makeover; Lifestyle change; Docusoaps (starring
celebrities); Hidden camera.
Not necessarily a new idea, reality tv has been around since the 60’s but there is a greater
consumption of them now.
Around 40% of people watch reality tv.
• Is it real?
In recent years a whole new genre of reality TV has spawned: ‘Scripted Reality’ (e.g., Towie,
Geordie Shore, Made in Chelsea).
• Our brains are bathed in this unreal “reality look-alike” genre.
• These shows follow a group of people in scripted situations, but with no scripted dialogue.
Although it is well documented that events in these shows are not genuine, doubt is often
thrown on the validity of other reality shows.
• 42% of 25-34 year olds believe most or all of reality TV to be true, compared with 30% of
over 55s.
• Over 55s are more sceptical when it comes to on screen reality romances, with 4 in 10
believing some of them to be genuine, compared to over 6 in 10 of 25-34 year olds.
, Reality TV genres
• Documentary style:
• Camera crews follow the daily interactions of people in ordinary places, or follow
people in a specific profession (e.g., Made in Chelsea, Georgie Shore, The Only Way
Is Essex).
• Extraordinary people:
• Focuses on the lifestyle / amazing feats of extraordinary people (e.g., Guinness
World Records Primetime).
• Historical re-creation:
• Takes modern-day contestants and puts them in the lifestyle of historical people or
places (e.g., Living in the Past, Edwardian Farm, Victorian Farm).
• Science:
• Documents scientific analysis or exploration first-hand (e.g., The Crocodile Hunter,
Mythbusters).
• Dating:
• Couples or singles are brought together in dating or romantic situations (e.g., Blind
Date, Love Island)
• Law enforcement, rescue, and military; Makeover; Lifestyle change; Docusoaps (starring
celebrities); Hidden camera.
Not necessarily a new idea, reality tv has been around since the 60’s but there is a greater
consumption of them now.
Around 40% of people watch reality tv.
• Is it real?
In recent years a whole new genre of reality TV has spawned: ‘Scripted Reality’ (e.g., Towie,
Geordie Shore, Made in Chelsea).
• Our brains are bathed in this unreal “reality look-alike” genre.
• These shows follow a group of people in scripted situations, but with no scripted dialogue.
Although it is well documented that events in these shows are not genuine, doubt is often
thrown on the validity of other reality shows.
• 42% of 25-34 year olds believe most or all of reality TV to be true, compared with 30% of
over 55s.
• Over 55s are more sceptical when it comes to on screen reality romances, with 4 in 10
believing some of them to be genuine, compared to over 6 in 10 of 25-34 year olds.
