Reality TV Around the Globe

        Reality TV shows have taken the world by storm. 'Survivor', 'Big Brother' and other shows have drawn hundreds of millions of viewers to the screen.

        It was in Europe that all this started. The first series of this kind of show was called 'Expedition: Robinson'. It was shown in Sweden in 1997, and was soon a hit. That show placed young people in faraway places to compete against each other. The finale of the show was watched by half the Swedish population, making it one of the most popular programs in the country's history. Its success alerted TV bosses around the world to the potential of watching ordinary people try hard to survive in the wilderness.

        Officials at the Columbia Broadcasting System in the United States decided to produce their own version of the show. This is how 'Survivor' came into existence. They chose 16 Americans of different ages and races to live on a South Pacific island in May 2000. The contestants on the island had some real problems to tackle. One of them was food, as they had to find and cook their own food. Sometimes, they were even forced to catch and eat rats and worms.

        Experts say that 'Survivor' is popular because television viewers like to watch people in real situations where the final result is unknown. Viewers also like to watch other people's struggles and problems because it makes them feel better about their own lives.

        'Big Brother' started in Holland. Nine volunteers took part in the show and were filmed 24 hours a day for 100 days. It became one of Holland's top-rated shows within a month, and drew 15 million viewers for its climax on New Year's Eve 1999. And its success prompted TV stations around the world to buy the idea.

        Two months after the appearance of 'Survivor', the American version of 'Big Brother' was aired in the United States, involving ten participants who were filmed inside a house built on a California soundstage.

        Winners of the two shows can walk away with a lot of money. 'Survivor's' prize was $1 million, whereas 'Big Brother' contestants could win $500,000, and 'Survivor' triumphed in the ratings.

        Reality TV shows are also causing a big stir in France, Britain and many other countries. The French answer to 'Big Brother' is 'Loft Story', in which 11 contestants are locked up in an apartment in Paris. Protesters surrounded the apartment three times in one week. They complained that the show is sinking to new broadcasting lows. The protests, however, have fuelled public interest. And the show remains high in the ratings.

        Britain started its reality shows later than some of its European and American counterparts. In fact, 'Survivor' was dreamed up by a Briton named Charlie Parsons, but the idea was not picked up in his home country until it had been a success in Scandinavia and America.

Questions:

1. Which of the following reality TV shows are mentioned in the passage?

2. Who are the performers in reality TV shows?

3. What is the essence of a reality TV show?

4. Which of the following is true about 'Survivor' and 'Big Brother' when shown in differentcountries?

5. What nationality is Charlie Parsons, who first got the idea of the reality TV show 'Survivor'?

6. What occurred to TV bosses around the globe after the success of the first series of'Survivor'?