Reality Shows in spite of being criticized widely still manage to garner good TRPs’...Why?

One of the very first reality shows which created a stir in the Indian Television Industry was Roadies season one, “one-of-its-kind” adventure show, according to me. Where death-defying stunts, money tasks, eliminations just to win were performed by the contestants just to win cash prizes and a Karizma bike...Totally worth it, eh?

 How can we forget INDIAN IDOL season one? This happened in the early 2000s’.The prize of this show was tempting, indeed. The voting systems, emotional drama, totally hooking up the audience to their idiot boxes for one hour of pure masala entertainment. Abhijeet Sawant had become a household name. His journey into an overnight star was on everyone’s’ lips.

Then, there was no stopping for reality shows. They just took off. There were sequels to the existing shows, and new shows came up. Some became a huge hit, some didn’t even see the light of the day and some...Some just vanished into thin air.

Earlier, people did not pay much attention to the reality shows, since they were soap operas which went on and on and on, and took their time.

In the year 2007-2008, because of the indecent behaviour of the contestants, abusive language, too much of skin-show, shows like Roadies, Big Boss, Splitsvilla, etc ; were sent notices by the Supreme Court which really worked in the favour of these shows. People who did not even watch such shows and were hooked to their saas-bahu serials, started taking note of such shows, just to see what the controversies were all about. CURIOSITY certainly killed the CAT!!!! J

The target audiences of such shows are the youth. The shows’ definitely hit the bull’s eye! Youth were hooked on to the shows, and it clearly became a trend. The way people spoke in the above shows, their opinions, beliefs were blatantly copied just to have that “COOL” attitude. Politics, Back-Biting, etc all looked glamorous. Another reason, for the shows’ earning TRPs’ was that, it broke the monotony of the saas-bahu serials. There was no shor-sharaba or maybe less of it and definitely no rona-dhona. It looked and appeared more real.

 They made use of a simple concept ­­-- “Jo Dikhta hai, wohi Bikta hai” (What is real, is indeed appealing to the eyes). Whatever, they showed; they exaggerated it to the core. Be it rakhi sawant’s washing of clothes in Big Boss, Abhijeet Sawant’s story – Journey into an overnight star, Raghu’s (MTV producer and judge) on-screen electrifying presence and foul mouth.

Watching reality shows has become like a style statement now. I watch three shows and you??? Another reason was that -- who doesn’t like to see people making fun of other people on the National Television?? Be it Raghu belittling some contestant’s self-confidence, or Nikhil Chinappa making fun of some bimbette on Splitsvilla. Everyone has and will continue having a good laugh.

Another reason for the rising TRPs’ would be, whatever they sold, they sensationalized it. The content would be more “In Your Face” kind.

Then, there are LOYALISTS present almost everywhere. They back the shows, no matter what!

 So, THIS IS IT!! The reasons for reality shows like MTV Roadies, Splitsvilla in spite of being criticized, still earn good TRPs’ are – 1.Loyalists backing such shows, no matter!

2. Young guns of the country.  3. Style symbol

4. Breaking the monotony of the saas-bahu serials.

 5. Voyeurism – main reason for success of reality shows.