Today’s society
is full of changes among which we can find the TV reality show phenomenon that
is to be seen on almost every channel in France or in the United State for
instance. This concept of following families or the so called “normal people”
in their daily life is available in many different ways. The expansion of the
phenomenon, if it is however principally due to a change in the mentalities,
also has an economic explanation.
First of all it
must be said that people who produce and people who “perform” in such shows both
have a pecuniary interest in the business of reality shows.
Take the case of
producers and channels. Nowadays, TV reality shows are one of the most profitable
investments in terms of costs and profits. It makes sense once we know that
producers usually need to pay a screen writer to create the scripts for the “normal”
series, while they do not need one when it is for TV reality shows. People
“acting” are indeed supposed to do it spontaneously, without preparing
anything. So, while series cost around 1 million dollars to produce, TV reality
shows only cost around 800 000 dollars which is a saving of 200 000 dollars
added to the advertising that brings in high profits for channels.
Another cost element
to take into account is the salaries of the actors which can sometimes be huge
spending for producers. If we take the
example of Friends which was one of the most wonderful success of the 90s and
beginning of the 2000s, the six main actors were paid $1million per episode for
the last season. Nevertheless, French actors are never paid that much for
series. We can name the example of one long during show as “Plus Belle La Vie” for
which the main actors earn approximately 10 000 Euros per month. But in the
case of TV reality, participants will never get such a “high salary”. In fact
they are usually paid according to the time they stay in the show. Yet they do
not receive only this payment but also money for interviews and photos
depending on their popularity. We can take the example of “Secret Story”. For
the 6 season, the participants were paid 500 euros each week (which means 2000
euros a month) until they leaved the game and then they still received 350 Euros
per week until the end of the show. And the winner wins a 150 000 euro
cheque.
As we saw, there
is a real financial interest in being part of a TV reality show but we can
question whether there is a human interest or not? Are such shows justifiable
only because they are worthwhile?
Aurélie D.
I don't think that Secret Story has really an interest for us...unless making become crazy the teenagers.
ReplyDeleteBut, $1 million per episode for the actors of Friends? It's really huge!
How could they negotiate such a salary? Especially the same for the whole team. I guess that the producers are not really poor.
Concerning the salary of the actors, I agree it is huge but it was a strategy. Indeed the 6 main actors always refused to negociate separately.
ReplyDeleteThis has finally been a smart strategy as they had began with $22 500 per episode and for the last season it came up to $1 million.
Aurélie
I was really shocked by the salary of Friend's actors as well, it is unbelievable ! Do you have another comparison concerning American TV shows, such as the salary of How I met your mother's actors (among others) ?
ReplyDeleteA lot of reality TV shows are being created nowadays, it is indeed the evidence of the popularity of this business. However, I guess that they are facing ethic issues (given that the majority of their audience is the younger ones). Can we say that games such as 'Koh Lanta' or 'Qui veut épouser mon fils ?' or 'Pékin Express' are reality TV shows as well ?
Nathalie
I regret to see that there are more and more reality TV programs. These programs bring nothing to the young. Most of the time, it’s about teenagers doing nothing the whole day and they are paid for. I think reality TV programs should not go on public channels but on private channels, because I think a lot of people are tired of paying the license fee to see such crap.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see the MTV programs with girls pregnant at the age 16, I think there is something wrong, and personally, the program called "my sweet sixteen" makes me sick.
Estelle
Not so long ago, I came across a reality show showing the everyday life of teenagers mother. Somehow the reality show was made in such a way that we have the impression that being a teenager mother is absolutely delightful. I was kind of shocked how this reality show gives a bad example and could lead for millions of teenager to think that it is indeed great to have a baby without thinking about all the difficulties!! I personally think that the success of reality show doesn’t mean that producers should do nonsenses
ReplyDeleteSandra
To Nathalie: The TV shows you mentioned are considered as reality TV shows. But I read that in France there is a problem linked with shows like "Qui veut epouser mon fils" or "Les Ch'tis" for instance because those are reality show but are also part scripted. So the CSA will either have to decide if it's reality or fiction or to create a new categorie of show.
ReplyDeleteConcerning the salaries. The actors of "the big bang theory" receive between $100.000 and $300.000 per episode depending on their popularity. I surched for the salaries of "How I met your mother" which are difficult to find. But it seems to be around $150 000 per episode. Nevertheless the actors are asking for a higher salary, otherwise they won't stay in the serie...
Sandra and Estelle,I totally agree with you, such shows are disturbing. BUT they do have a big success and this is why I wanted to write about it. Indeed I wanted to prove that people in such shows are not there just to have fun or to tell about their experience. If people act in such shows it is first for money and fame (even if I'm not sure it is fame...) and then maybe in some cases to raise awareness about a specific subject.
Aurélie
This amount of money given to the people who take part in these reality shows is unbelievable. And the worst thing is that more and more people watch them! I agree with everyone and above all with Estelle when she says that regarding some of the shows, there is definitely something wrong... Young people seem to be crazy about it but don't they realize that every single candidate is only here for money and that he or she is really stupid?! I mean they cannot even speak french properly!
ReplyDelete*Eloïse
ReplyDeleteWhat I like most is that after the end of reality shows, the "actors" think they can have the world at their feets and act as superstars whereas they are not !
ReplyDeleteThis is not only irritating to watch them fooling themselves but I truly pity them,reality shows create icons who disppear right after it ends. Their fame is just temporary, but reality shows (such as "Les anges de la tele-reality") makes them believe they can become famous singers, actors (please look how you acted during the show !!!).
The only thing they can do is getting ridiculous after they left the reality show so as to end on people magazines !
I feel like they don't know what to invent anymore to attract people to watch some ! I personnly feel like I'm losing time and I get frustrated not to be able to slap each of them watching such spuditidy refleting the image of French people.
And what about the model they give to the young generations ? that getting on the nerves of everyone is good ? yelling everytime, fighting with each other ? destroying couples ? Trying and beating everyone at his own ? What a nice reflect of the society !! Fortunatly USA do worse, feel better lol
Howeverer I think some reality shows deserve certain kind of respect, but they only find favour with me when they only include one character facing a particular situation (they are not really a tv shows and not really a reality show): like Man Vs Wild (Seule face à la nature) which was pretty interesting and Bear Grylls totally deserved the £60,000 he got after each episode. The other one is Undercover boss (Patron sous couverture). Unfortunatly they are not well known according to your level of literacy because people prefer watching shows that turn them into an idiot !
Elodie (sorry for the long post ^^")
Once again, I agree with both of you. But if you think like producers or Channels directors, you will see the financial interest. Concerning any cultural or educative aspect, I think we can say there is none exepted maybe to show teenagers which exemple they should never follow...
ReplyDeleteElodie,concerning Man vs Wild I think it is a real tv show and it can as well be critized because Bear Grylls is suspected of having received help whithout telling it.(exemple: he did not sleep outside but in a house)
Aurélie