Reality TV 2.0

The powerful human nature that compels us to watch others in their "real" moments is what helped make reality television such a booming phenomenon ever since the mid 1990’s. Shows such as Driving School, Castaway and Vets in Training kept the nation gripped whilst newer programmes such as Big Brother still attract millions of viwers. It’s fair to say, however, that the past then years haven’t been so kind on all reality TV shows and producers trying to create innovative new reality television programming audience figures have been dropping off; forcing many to air later in the night or on digital channels only.

However, with the mass introduction of broadband connections and available digital media software, Reality TV is set for a come back; not onto the plasma TV’s of the nation, but onto the computer monitors and mobile phones. Say hello to Reality TV 2.0, a revolution that promises to be bigger and better than the boon of the nineties.

Though the Web has, since its inception, invited connectivity through communication, never before has there been the ability for people to share their lives through their camera lens been so easy. The blogging sensation easily helped lead to the Reality TV 2.0 phenomenon because blogging gave everyone with an internet connection a voice; much like that of a print newspaper or magazine writer. With Reality TV 2.0, now everyone can have their own television program as well!

Pioneer sites such as Justin.tv (which showcases a 24/7 feed of a young 20-something) portray just how powerful the reality TV 2.0 trend can be. The urge to watch and "see what happens next" is all-too-powerful - and young entrepreneurs like Justin are counting on it. He’s utilizing the viral popularity of the site to hype an upcoming startup that he and a few collaborators are working on that will "make broadcasting live video on the web easy."

Of course, websites such as MySpace and YouTube put in their dues in teaching us all to tell the world about ourselves by posting photos, blog entries and videos but the technology and the message is moving further than that of just personal scrapbooks. Reality TV 2.0 will further enable web users with the ability to not only sit and watch but to stand up and be watched as well.

This online revolution will not threaten the traditional media channels just yet though. A recent Channel 4 project to allow it’s users to send in their homemade clips shows that the production levels, quality of material and mass-market appeal of home-made clips is still way below that of a polished BBC drama or new American Series but a few clips did have potential.

Justin TV is showing the world that it doesn’t take a huge budget to create watchable TV, just a unique idea and clever marketing. If these tools became available to the internet browsing public then it could be that within a few years some of the newer digital channels operating in the UK become portals for fresh, new, home made programming. Watch this space.