LONDON: TV viewers in the UK are expressing concern about reality TV shows which “humiliate and exploit” contestants.
The UK’s Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) interviewed more than 2,000 members of the public and had discussions with 14 different groups to gauge their views. Dramatic Licence: Fact or Fiction, centred on audience’s attitude to TV drama.
A BBC News report suggests that viewers were concerned that the public perception of contestants could be manipulated through slick editing. Reality TV has become a phenomenon in the last four or five years with programmes such as Big Brother and Survivor drawing huge audiences across the world. In the UK, however, the fourth edition of Big Brother showed a reduction in viewership.
In India, AXN has experienced success in the genre with shows like Fear factor and Who Dares Wins. The latter was localised last year. Auditions for the local version of Are You Hot are currently taking place.
BSC’s report states “Although viewers question the realism of reality TV, its overall appeal is the sensationalist content which viewers recognise can be heightened by the use of selective editing.” It also adds that audiences are concerned about whether the participant wanted the footage to be aired in its entirety.
As far as television dramas are concerned, viewers felt there was a general lack of quality programming and there was criticism for cliched themes that are continously recycled. The absence of originality is increasingly being felt in the storylines. The viewers called for realism in the storylines and should be based on some element of factual accuracy.
Tag: UK viewers
-
Reality TV shows are a matter of concern for UK viewers
-
UK viewers for more visibility of disabled people on TV
LONDON: Television viewers show a high degree of acceptance of disabled people on screen, with 79 per cent saying they would not mind if a disabled person read the main evening news bulletin, The findings are contained in a new research Disabling Prejudice which was commissioned by the BBC, the Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) and Independent Television Commission (ITC).
The report also notes that broadcasters appear more cautious, concerned with perceived audience prejudices, ratings and other possible constraints.
The majority of viewers (61 per cent) say that there should be more portrayals of disabled people on television in a wide variety of roles, including as presenters. The inclusion of disabled people in television advertising was also welcomed, particularly where it challenges negative stereotypes or actively promotes positive images of disabled people.
The report examines attitudes towards disability, and the representation of disability on television, by both disabled and non-disabled viewers, and by broadcasting industry professionals.
ITC chief executive, Patricia Hodgson said: “The feedback we have had from viewers and from industry professionals in this project sheds some very useful light on their different expectations about disability.”
“It is understandable that broadcasters are sensitive about involving disabled people in programmes, both on and off screen, but this should not be an excuse to shy away from properly representing society,” Hodgson added.
The report notes that television is seen as a particularly powerful medium, so accuracy of portrayals is considered vital, as is the need for television to offer positive role models to young disabled people, and the avoidance of negative stereotypes (including well-intentioned emphasis on the “bravery” of a disabled person).
Among some non-disabled viewers there remained barriers to acceptance of more prominence of disabled people on screen. These viewers were less comfortable watching people whom they perceived to be “different”. Some industry professionals also thought that viewers expected actors and presenters to be traditionally good looking, and had concerns over how audiences might respond to more “severely” disabled actors or presenters.
The research identified several factors that would increase the likelihood of on-screen portrayals being widely accepted by these kinds of viewers: They include:
* Matching – This means demonstrating that “you are like me”. Portrayals should go beyond disability to focus on the disabled person as being, in most respects, just like everyone else
* Likeability – Broadcasters should aim at creating emotional connections with viewers through shared qualities, for example, a presenter with an engaging personality or sense of humour;
* Celebrity – using a famous actor to play a disabled role. This was recognised as an effective way of attracting attention to a programme, and there was support for this approach from the majority of viewers, given the desire to raise awareness and increase the number of variety of portrayals – as long as the resulting portrayals are accurate.
* Incidental inclusion – This refers to involving disabled people at all levels of programming and production, and featuring disabled characters or presenters where their disability was not the reason for their inclusion or central to the storyline.