Spoiler alert! Reality television may be on its way out.
I know, I know. It’s the most popular, marketable form of 
television programming right now. MTV even dropped “Music” from its name because their reality shows now far outnumber their musical-related programs. So it may seem premature to declare the death of reality TV. But hear me out.
Amidst the peak of its popularity, the reality television genre now faces more difficulties than ever. In the age of Twitter, YouTube, and wireless mobile devices, it seems that nothing can be kept a secret anymore. Heck, the second season of “Jersey Shore” hasn’t even aired yet, and I already know that Snooki gets into another bar brawl. Why do I know this? Because someone immediately captured it on video and posted it online.
This is a problem for reality television. In an industry that relies entirely upon surprise and suspense, spoiler alerts are like kryptonite: they completely rob the programs of their power. Sites such as RealitySteve.com exist for the purpose of leaking information and spreading reality TV spoilers.
The Social Media Culture
We live in an instantly gratified, information-hungry society, where people have little time to be distracted by the trivialities of commercials and suspense. Accordingly, models for entertainment content have changed over the past few years. Social media and technology has permeated television, be it MTV, American Idol (text to vote!), or ESPN’s Twitter updates. Cravings for immediate content and instantaneous updates now reign supreme. This is why reality television faces an uphill battle.
Why Reality TV?
The draws of reality television are clear: drama and suspense. “Realistic” characters in “real-life” situations are forced to coexist, compete and communicate with one another, be it on an island or on the Jersey Shore. Fans and viewers tune in on a weekly basis, anxiously awaiting the latest plot development, salivating for the newest squabble. Will these squabbles carry nearly as much appeal if people already know what happens?
The Situation
More and more sites such as RealitySteve.com are being created every day. Their sole purpose? Tip off fans and reveal plot developments. This hurts ratings for shows such as “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” because fans already know who wins ahead of time. It’s like TiVo-ing the Super Bowl because you were at work, only to have one of your lame office buddies ruin the day by announcing that the Saints won. (Yes, this actually happened to me).
The Bottom Line
I’m not a huge reality show fan. But I can appreciate the appeal that these programs carry for millions of viewers. People love drama, especially when it’s suspenseful and hooks you in. We may carry BlackBerries, iPhones and iPads these days, but our cravings for suspense and drama have never changed. The escapism of reality television has been the popular trend of the past decade, but now that trend is clashing head on with social media.
Until networks such as MTV and ABC can find innovative, effective ways to monitor and control the social media surrounding their programs, content will continue to get spoiled. And as that happens, ratings for reality television shows will go down. Social media has grown into a dominant force of the Information Age, and it could very well kill reality television. So networks, take heed: either figure out how to protect and manage your brand, or change the content. Snooki’s counting on the former.
