Do any of you here in Covington, Georgia ever watch "reality" TV shows... like "Survivor," "Extreme Makeover," and "The Great Race?" How about "realty" TV shows? Nope... that's not a misprint. My spellchecker is still working. I'm talking about "real estate" TV shows.
With the writer's strike in progress and all the scripted shows being reruns, now's your chance. Marc Berman, a TV analyst with MediaWeek, an industry trade publication, says realty shows are continuing to grow in popularity.
Sixteen realty TV shows were on the schedules of cable outlets A&E, Bravo, HGTV and TLC last season. There were only two in 2002 and four in 2005. And even more debuted this past September.
Whether people own homes, or just want to own, Berman says they are drawn to realty TV shows by their natural curiosity about other people's homes. Advertisers also find the shows an effective way to reach their primary female viewers.
Tim Brooks, executive VP of research at cable outlet Lifetime, says companies like Campbell Soup Co., Coca-
Cola Co., General Motors Corp., The Home depot Inc., and MasterCard Inc. are regular advertisers.
Although realty TV will be going strong this year, "You'll see the shows morph into a different tone," Brooks predicts. For example, "Flip This House," which first aired in 2005 and made it seem that virtually anyone could make money rehabbing and reselling a house, will become more reflective of today's tougher market conditions, Brooks says.
So when you Covington folks sit down tonight and start channel surfing, if nothing's there except reruns, try some "reality...realty" TV.
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