Reality shows 'round the clock - Your Life - Brief Article

Americans are ready for reality television shows on a 24-hour basis, maintains telecommunications professor Dom Caristi of Ball State University, Muncie, Ind. Reality Central, a cable channel set to debut in 2004, will be a success because only a few hundred thousand people need to tune in daily to make it profitable, he notes.

"This is not far-fetched because we already have cable channels that are just for travel, cooking, and home improvement. The genre has established itself over the last few years. It may lose some of its luster, but reality television is not going away."

Reality Central will broadcast a 24-hour mixture of repeats, imported international shows, and "where are they now" style programs about former reality show contestants. "Don't underestimate the marketability of some franchise operations like 'Survivor' to draw attention," contends Caristi.

"Repeats of 'The Bachelor' or 'Joe Millionaire' can all bring [in] a few people who enjoyed the show the first time it aired or many who missed it the first time around [on broadcast television]. On cable, a rerun can be successful with just one percent of the original audience."

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