There has been an incessant growth in TV channels. To sustain competition channels are forced to hit upon different genre of Entertainment quotient (EQ) to enhance viewership. Half of the channels go gaga over saas-bahu sagas. Therefore, reality shows have broken the traditional mould and become immensely popular with the masses.

The main attraction for any reality show is the unique formula of public poll. America and Britain were the early entrants in the launch of reality shows. Seeing its fame and popularity, Indian television decided to venture into same with Sony’s first reality show INDIAN IDOL. The channel reached to resplendent heights immediately after this show.

With the success of Indian Idol, many more channels followed the bandwagon.ZEE has introduced SA RE GA MA challenge,Indian idol season-3 and now the recent much acclaimed Star one’s SA RE GA MA PA DHA....These shows have created a new success story for the channels and the Television Rating Points (TRPs) greatly increased.

Typically, budget of a reality show in India would be in the range of Rs.15-25 crore or sometimes even more. These shows are conceptualized in a totally different manner. The sets are very lavish, the format is ethnic. These could be the reasons why reality shows are ruling the roost in Indian Television.

No doubt the reality show trend was good in a way but eventually it has started to fade in the minds of the people. Half of the drama or emotions that enfolds in these reality shows are pre-planned. This is a new strategy to attract viewership and keep the TRPs on a rise. Sometimes the polls could be inaccurate. These shows provides the viewer great delight but it is necessary on our part that we become aware about the games played by television channels to increase their popularity.

Due the public polling system, there is a tie-up between Mobile companies and Television channels. According to a survey, the year 2005-06 has been a boon for mobile companies and they are the market rulers. Furthermore, there is a stiff competition between the Television channels. Once the formula of reality shows becomes super-hit other channels try to do the same. All the power packed melodrama are already devised and planned. It is nothing but Publicity gimmicks which make us wary and we as Target audience consider the happenings of these shows as GOSPEL TRUTH.

Endemol, the format owners worldwide of approximate 1000 reality shows had turned producers with Sony TVs Big Boss (Big Brother in UK). But, the show had not lived upto the audience expectations and failed miserably. This clearly shows that people are drifting away from reality shows. A survey reports, around 82 million household were hooked to reality shows till the end of 2005. But, now only 52 million people do watch these shows. If Sony TV hits the jackpot once with Indian Idol it does’nt mean they could replicate it again with Big Boss.

To conclude we can say that the funda is simple to understand. The ruling soaps have become a subject to boredom with no storyline. Therefore, reality shows may mark as an entirely new arrival. Also, roping in celebrities in reality shows is a safety factor as people are sure to watch their favourite stars. But the telecast of more and more reality shows has turned nerve breaking and down the next five years it is difficult to fool around with the public with such frivolous shows. When tabloids today publish the results of the reality shows before the telecast of the show the suspense element is lost and there remains no excitement to watch these shows.