The Reality TV Controversies
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REALITY TV – THE DEBATE Cont..The strongest
argument put forward by the networks in support of such shows was that
viewers wanted to see reality TV programs. This was borne out by the high
viewership ratings recorded by these programs. Bob Littiera (Littiera),
Vice-President, DKB and Partners (New Jersey) Media Division, said, “People
will watch anything, they'll watch whatever is thrown at them. There's
always going to be someone who's watching, always a new audience for it, and
there will always be executives who give this to them. And there will always
be advertisers.”
Rabbi Kenneth Roseman, a renowned critic of reality TV, said, “Every human
being is faced with moral choices, temptations to make mistakes. But we're
not faced with people who deliberately set out to undermine or distort our
morals, particularly for ratings and profit. This is really offensive.” He
argued that TV networks deliberately exposed millions of people to moral
conflicts, encouraging them to give in to temptation, all for the sake of
popularity and profitability. How far are these TV networks justified in
endangering the moral environment of the society as a whole?
THE FUTURE
The healthy growth of the 1980s continued through to
the 1990s, and the two-wheeler segment registered a growth of 14%. Till
the 1980s, Enfield, Escorts and Ideal Jawa were the only major players
in the motorcycle segment. From the mid 1980s, the segment gradually
picked up momentum and its high growth potential forced all the major
two-wheeler players to focus on the segment.
Almost all leading players entered into joint ventures and technical
collaboration agreements with various foreign companies - mainly
Japanese two-wheeler giants like Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki
Heavy Industries Ltd. (Refer Table I for Tie-ups). |
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In late 2001, a survey conducted in the US by Adweek
revealed that 50% of the surveyed people had become more selective to the kind
of programs they watched. Around 57% of the surveyed people indicated that they
were less willing to watch reality based programs. As many as 60% of the
respondents said that they were willing to watch comedies. This trend seemed to
be catching on in many parts of the world in early 2002. Though the repeated
telecast of the September 11th terrorist attacks in the US, which brought
viewers very close to reality, was partly responsible for this change, it was
also caused to some extent, by viewer fatigue. The continuous telecast of
reality TV shows with more or less the same content, had bored viewers.
Many of the major networks had reportedly begun efforts to modify their
offerings accordingly, prompting rumors of the onset of ‘the end of reality TV.'However, industry observers claimed that the passiveness towards reality TV
programs would be soon over as ‘viewer memory'tends to be very short.
Analysts observed that viewers continued to watch reality TV in spite of the
criticism it received. They therefore argued that viewers were as much to blame
for these shows as the TV networks and advertisers.
Bill Press, a TV host and critic, summed up the situation: “I've got to tell
you, as long as people will go to casinos or continue to build them, as long as
people will watch this junk on TV they're going to continue to produce it.
There's nobody to blame but the idiots who tune in to it.”
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. Briefly comment on the evolution of TV programming worldwide over the
decades. Why do you think reality TV shows became the rage overnight in almost
all parts of the world?
2. ‘Reality TV shows only aim at generating viewership by dealing in
controversial issues.'Critically comment on the social, moral and ethical
issues involved in such programming.
3. How far do you think viewers are responsible for encouraging reality shows?
Are they as much to blame as TV networks?
4. Do you think reality TV shows have a bleak future in light of the increasing
opposition? As part of a management team at a TV network, how would you balance
the lure of high viewership (and the corresponding ad revenues) with the social,
moral and ethical obligations of the company?
EXHIBIT I GENRES OF REALITY TV PROGRAMMING
EXHIBIT II MOST POPULAR AND CRITICIZED REALITY TV SHOWS
ADDITIONAL READINGS & REFERENCES:
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