Impact of Reality Shows on Society

Significance of the Study

Media content analysis is an integral part of media studies and research that heighten media users’ or citizens’ understanding of the society. Media programmes particularly telecast shows, are bound to have positive or negative impact on society. Television is arguably the most pervasive mass medium because it combines sound and pictures and no skills are necessary the audience to watch or enjoy them. Today, reality shows with celebrities acts as a clutter-breaking property for viewers; they provide increased visibility and a chance to reach out to a larger TV-viewing audience. Even though the star quotient is important as it attracts viewers instantly, reality shows keep viewers glued to TV monitor even when the presence of stars is less relevant. Thus it is of great importance that the impact of reality shows on society is assessed.

A review of the relevant related studies yields the following results:

1. Reality television programmes have been around since the first broadcast of Candid Camera in the late 1940’s, although it has not been until recently years that these types of shows have gained immense popularity. The debut of Survivor in 2000 has been credited with the commencement of reality programming in the current television landscape (Rowen, 2000).

2. Most of reality television programming is geared to individuals under twenty five years of age (Frank, 2003). Frank suggests that younger viewers are drawn to these shows because they depict characters and situations that are relevant to their everyday lives.

3. Nabi et al. (2003) felt that regular viewers watched because they found it entertaining and it entertaining and that it was enjoyable to watch another’s life as it enhanced their own awareness about themselves. Casually viewers watched because they were boared or because thay enjoyed wathing another’s life.

Objectives

The main objectives of the study were to identify the various types of television programmes watched by the respondents. Understand the popularity of various reality shows and Study the impact of reality shows on society.

Methodology

Research is important to arouse awareness among people especially among youth and women as they are the most vulnerable groups in society. The youth have to understand that their obsession with reality shows can bring disaster for them instead of fame to their life. Moreover, this study can bring out some unexpected and serious fact of reality shows which will make people realize the significance of the practice of television viewing, especially the true meaning of reality show in their life.

I expect, after combining and analyzing all of the information gathered by me, can bring out some ideas pertaining to the usefulness or otherwise of reality show in general. I also hope to suggest some solutions to problems arising from the impact of reality shows on society. The scope of the study is confined to the selected area in the city of Gulbarga, Karnataka and around the Gulbarga University Campus. I selected five popular Hindi infotainment channels and two most-viewed reality shows in each selected channels. Questionnaires were distributed among 140 viewers, of whom 100 responded.