Yes, reality TV is taking over. How and why is that History Channel (is playing a lot less of History oriented programs) gotten into the game of reality TV. Reality TV shows like Ice Road Truckers, IRT Deadliest Roads, Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Swamp People, Stan Lee Super Humans and Modern Marvels (view them here). I’ll be honest I watch Pawn Stars, Ice Road Truckers causally, Stan Lee’s Superhumans and Modern Marvels religiously. Why am I watching when I do enjoy History very much? Because the shows are interesting and I don’t care what channel they are on. So I think the History Channel in addition to the industry are producing whatever will bring ratings and therefore marketing revenue. They are adapting beyond their own niche and sectors producing these type of shows. Are the TV channels programming losing their soul in the process? What I mean is that they are losing their identity like MTV, recently has or are they evolving into what they have where they are now- Moving to maintain success and growth not original identity. You can read here in recent 2010 LA Times article that MTV has removed “Music Television” from all their logos. Further reasoning is that almost everything ends up to being a business. That also includes businesses of course but also includes, education, healthcare, politics and technology. I believe the history channel is making a bold statement by given into the trend not because it Is popular but because it is successful.
The profitability of reality shows are a lot less costly to produce and currently more popular, so why wouldn’t any programming try the market out? Well according to this TIME magazine article from 2003 mentions that reality TV is best thing to happen to marketing and programming- I couldn’t agree more. Its rejuvenated television and allowed continued success for otherwise stall mate in programming (by ratings not my opinion).
Briefly, I must also mention that there is stigma that most reality TV is junk, well not so fast… there some channels that are producing educational reality TV shows, the article here encapsulates this notion pretty good. Any medium, I don’t care what it is can be utilized in a way to benefit you, me and society!
