Reality television programs typically feature ordinary people acting in the way they do in everyday life that are placed in comical or abnormal predicaments, right?  But if you think about it, this is nothing new to television.  The genre originated in the 1940s with the emergence of shows such as Candid Camera and other game shows. 

It is evident in its enormous growth in popularity that reality television may have a better place in today’s culture of convergence.  Consider the fact that producers of reality television series are now capable in today’s technological revolution of developing their programs across an ever-growing number of media platforms, therefore expanding the loyalty of their audience members.   

As Henry Jenkins discusses within Convergence Culture, American Idol is a prime example of how television networks have utilized aspects of new media culture to manipulate their audiences.  American Idol puts the power in the hands of the audience by partnering up with AT&T to allow viewers to phone in and text message their votes for contestants.  Immediately following the program, viewers can log onto ITunes and download their favorite contestants’ performances and producers even put together an annual American Idol Concert Tour featuring the final twelve making this series a true transmedia franchise.  As if exposure to reality programming on prime-time television is not enough, FOX also has devoted an entire channel to the genre.

As access to the Internet has become commonplace in American homes, the number of possibilities to explore your favorite programs are endless.  Think of the fans described by Henry Jenkins in “Spoiling Survivor” who participated in fan communities and went to enormous lengths to reveal the conclusion of the next week’s program before it was aired. 

The format of reality television series leaves viewers questioning what will happen next.  These programs open the doorway to discussion, whether it be with your family and friends, or within a convergence culture, someone half-way across the globe with the power of the World Wide Web.  American Idol fans will log fan communities attempting to determine who will be eliminated in the upcoming episode.   Unique fan communities like these have sprung up for a variety of other reality television programs.

Similarly, entire websites are devoted to reality television for viewers in case they have missed an episode or just want to simply further immerse themselves in the program.  Check out: Reality TV Website.com and Reality TV World.

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