• Summer reality success continues for NBC in Nielsens for week of August 18

  August 27, 2003
  Once again, NBC's summer strategy of multiple reality shows has led it to success among viewers 18-49 in the Nielsen ratings for the week ending August 18. MediaWeek reports that, although CBS continued to lead the overall Nielsens this week, NBC's reality shows, which took 5 of the top 12 places, propelled NBC to #1 among 18-49s, considered to be the most desirable market for advertisers.

• NBC's summer reality shows dominate the top of the Adults 18-49 weekly ratings

  August 22, 2003
  Well, the distinction probably deserves a asterisk next to it due to the East Coast blackout, but with “Who Wants to Marry My Dad?,” “For Love or Money 2” and “The Restaurant” scoring the week’s #1, #2 and #5 ratings respectively, NBC has claimed its 12th straight weeklong victory among adults 18-49. NBC’s “Fear Factor” also impressively boosted the network, tying for the week’s #6 ranking.

• Bravo to air 5-part "The Reality of Reality" documentary series on reality TV starting September 8

  August 22, 2003
  Well it was just a matter of time before it happened... reality television is now receiving its own "True Hollywood Story," "Behind The Music," "Where Are they Now?" style documentary series.

• Writers' union seeks to infiltrate, organize reality TV

  August 13, 2003
  Does 'unscripted TV' really mean that no writers are used? The Writers Guild of America doesn't think so, and it wants a cut from the boom in unscripted TV. According to the Hollywood Reporter, nonfiction shows -- including reality TV shows -- have traditionally been nonunion, even if writers are used. But the WGA, the union which represents Hollywood's powerful writers, is attempting to change that.

• 'Reality summer' continues on U.S. networks as several shows draw high ratings

  August 12, 2003
  Back in the spring, the U.S. networks talked about dumping reality shows; only six shows were scheduled on the four main networks and ABC's Jimmy Kimmel referred to them as "shit". How quickly things change.

• 'Survivor' producer Mark Burnett inks two-year deal to develop scripted series for The WB

  August 12, 2003
  Right now, Mark Burnett is the unchallenged "king" of high-quality U.S. reality TV production, based on his success with Eco-Challenge, Survivor, and the current The Restaurant. However, his first venture into scripted programming failed to even make the schedule at The WB, one of the weakest of the six U.S. broadcast networks. But, in true Eco-Challenge fashion, Burnett is ready to "try, try again."

• Reality TV World celebrates third anniversary

  August 9, 2003
  Reality TV World is celebrating our third anniversary today. Like mainstream network reality programming itself, the premiere season of CBS "Survivor" was responsible for our genesis. Six seasons later, here we are.

• The Golf Channel to air 'The Big Break' reality amateur golf competition show

  August 6, 2003
  Inside VC Golf is reporting that The Golf Channel, a premium cable television channel, will be broadcasting a new reality competition show called "The Big Break" this fall.

• New 'American Idol'-like reality show searching for gay country music superstar

  July 29, 2003
  Rolling Stone reports that Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Larry Dvoskin is conducting the search for America's first openly gay country music star -- and he plans to air a reality TV series about it.

• New Zealand reality show seriously burns contestant

  July 29, 2003
  According to Stuff.co.nz, a new New Zealand realty show seriously burned one of the contestants during its filming. At the time, the contestant was repeating a stunt -- walking through a wall of fire -- that he had already performed successfully, because the producers wanted to "get a better shot" of it. During the second try, the man's shirt caught fire, and he required skin-graft surgery on his upper body at a hospital in Auckland, NZ. A friend who visited him in the hospital described him as "a really unhappy customer."

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