Editorial: There's no escape from reality

By Paul Brooks

There is little realism in a format designed to titillate the voyeuristic ... What is it about television bosses and their desire to see their own medium extinct?

Do they not realise their own jobs are also going to disappear?

A brief glance at today's television programme listings is a trip down an ugly street. Mindless reality shows on all channels and a new channel -- Bravo -- brought into being to screen nothing but reality shows. They call them reality, but there is little realism in a format designed to titillate the voyeuristic and maximise ratings among the unimaginative. It's all about creative editing and manufactured sensationalism. Big Brother has a lot to answer for.

Changing channels -- even with Freeview -- brings little satisfaction, apart from the joy of pushing little buttons for no gain.

Occasionally, there will be a programme worth watching, but relegated to the late, late hours because rubbish is scheduled for prime time. It all adds up to a not-so-secret agenda to do away with free-to-air television and force everyone to Netflix, Lightbox or the pay TV services on offer. In so doing, they are removing an advertising platform and reducing corporate income, so their motives are obviously beyond my understanding.

Their surveys say they are reaching their desired demographic and that the future is peachy, but I have to wonder about such surveys and ratings.

I have never met anyone who has ever met anyone who knows anyone who has ever participated in Television Audience Measurement (TAM) through Nielsen, and the results give cause to wonder about the mentality of the small minority who have filled in a ratings form.

Either that or the ratings surveys are being ignored and TV executives have chosen their own road to ruin. Then again, perhaps enough people are happy with television the way it is -- in which case I fear for the future of the species.