Reality television shows have grown “qualitatively and quantitatively
coarser” than their scripted counterparts, a new study by the Parents Television
Council indicates.
Reality television shows have grown “qualitatively and quantitatively
coarser” than their scripted counterparts, a new study by the Parents Television
Council indicates. That conclusion is cause for concern since such shows composed
at least 20 percent of the prime-time schedule during the most-recent February
sweeps period.
Researchers examined the first four episodes of 29 network reality series broadcast
from June 2002 to August 2003 and found 1,135 instances of foul language, 492
instances of sex – visual act or verbal reference – and 30 instances
of violence for an average of 14.5 instances of offensive content an hour.
The results came from the examination of 114.5 hours of programming and indicate
a 52.6 percent overall increase from a similar study in October 2002.
The current study said there was an average of 3.5 more instances per hour
of sex and foul language on reality series than on scripted series, something
that leaders at the Parents Television Council say should concern American parents.
The recently-released study examined such programs as “Big Brother,”
“Survivor” and “Meet My Folks.”
“If children are influenced by behaviors they see modeled by actors and
actresses on scripted programs – and theres ample research to show
they are – common sense dictates that they will be equally influenced by
behaviors they see modeled by real people on unscripted programs,” the
study concluded.
“Networks need to be held accountable for the dangerous and irresponsible
messages they are communicating to young fans of the reality genre.”
Reality television now constitutes 13 percent of broadcast programming, up
from 4 percent in 1999. The increase may be attributed to the simple factor
of money, since low production costs and no talent to pay other than the shows
host make the genre particularly appealing, the study noted.
However, the route reality television often takes to snag viewers has moral
implications found in greater excess than scripted shows.
“Every time a reality show ups the ante with outrageous behavior or shocking
footage, its encouraging subsequent shows to add more skin, more twists
and more shocking behavior, resulting in a perpetual race to the bottom,”
the Parents Television Council study concluded.
Among the findings for reality shows:
The amount of bleeped profanities per hour has increased by 273
percent since the 2002 study. Verbal sexual references also were more frequent,
increasing from 0.9 instances per hour to 3.31 instances per hour, an increase
of 373 percent since 2002.
A specific obscenity for male-female relations was the most commonly-used
profanity on broadcast reality programs, the study found. The word was bleeped
199 times, although the viewing audience easily could decipher it.
Words and phrases Parents Television Council has not yet recorded
on scripted broadcasts – including descriptive sexual references – were
present in reality shows.
Nudity was the second most-frequent type of sexual content on reality
television, and Parents Television Council counted 16 instances of sexual activity
on reality programs during the duration of its study.
Although the use of foul language and sexual content dramatically
increased from 2002, the total violence per hour on reality shows decreased
by 285 percent.
Reality shows airing on the WB and UPN networks contained the highest
levels of offensive content, with 25.4 and 24.2 instances of offensive content
per hour, respectively, the study said.
The two worst broadcast reality shows overall were CBSs “Big
Brother 4” and WBs “The Surreal Life.”
Talent competitions, physical makeover documentaries and home improvement series
were not counted in the councils analysis of reality television shows.
“Reality television is now a fixture on programming schedules, and parents
need to be aware that although these series are promoted heavily and often tailor-made
for young viewers, they are almost never appropriate for impressionable young
minds,” the study concluded.
The underlying theme of reality television is unhealthy, the study maintained.
“It has been said that reality TV is turning us into a nation of Peeping
Toms,” the study said. “Its certainly a valid complaint. Shows
like Paradise Hotel and Big Brother are designed to
appeal to the basest instincts of the viewers, invite us all to become voyeurs,
and serve no purpose other than to pander and titillate.
“Research shows that viewers, young viewers especially, are influenced
by the behavior they see modeled on television,” the study adds. “As
reality television continues to spread, we need to be mindful of the messages
and values these shows are communicating to young viewers.
“Whats a young viewer likely to learn from reality TV?” the
study asked. “That backstabbing and betrayal will get you ahead in life
(Survivor); that marriage is not to be taken seriously (Married
by America); that money matters more than love when choosing a life mate
(Joe Millionaire; For Love or Money).
“Parents need to be armed with the information to combat these harmful
messages.” (BP)
(For the complete Parents Television Council study on reality television, visit
www.parentstv.org. Warning:
The study contains content that may offend some readers.)