A little more than a decade ago, launching a reality show on a big four broadcast network during the lazy days of summer was a recipe for success – think “Survivor.”
But this summer, audiences have been cooler toward new broadcast shows in the genre, shown by low ratings for programs such as ABC’s hidden-camera offering “Glass House,” which averaged less than 2.5 million viewers.
Some say broadcast reality TV has matured and that viewers can’t be bothered with new shows anymore. Others point to the fragmentation of audiences into cable and digital outlets that offer more niche programming suited to particular tastes.
That’s a challenge acknowledged by Arthur Smith, a co-founder of L.A. production company A. Smith & Co. Productions and an executive producer of celebrity dating show “The Choice,” which debuted this summer on Fox.
“Broadcast is having a hard time launching shows because cable is doing such as good job,” he said. “Numbers have completely changed from where they were years ago.”
“The Choice,” which wrapped up last month, featured a panel of four celebrities, such as Carmen Electra and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, who answered questions and flirted with noncelebrity contestants who were trying to make a match. It averaged 3.7 million viewers for its six episodes and it’s unclear whether Fox will renew the show.
Still, Smith isn’t just waiting for the phone to ring. His production company has been busy throughout the summer with more established reality franchises that are doing better than many of the newcomers.
One of them is “Hell’s Kitchen,” featuring celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey, which airs Mondays on Fox. The show is now in its 10th season and is bringing in about 6 million viewers for each episode – regularly winning the night. The show was renewed earlier this year for two more seasons.
Another show from his company, “American Ninja Warrior,” was something of a coup as well. This summer, NBC began airing episodes, which follows athletes as they tackle an obstacle course. In its previous three seasons, the show had been aired on NBCUniversal’s G4 cable channel. Only last season’s finale had aired on the broadcast network.
Smith said in bringing it to NBC, he stepped up the grandeur, such as filming the finale in Las Vegas. The show averaged a little more than 5 million viewers per episode.
“There was a bigness that felt like a network show, and that’s why it did well,” he said.
Writers’ Block
There could be yet another delay in the nearly four-year effort by Tribune Co. – parent of the Los Angeles Times and KTLA-TV (5) – to emerge from bankruptcy.
Last week, a Delaware bankruptcy judge gave a group of the company’s junior creditors the chance to appeal a reorganization plan he had approved last month. However, the junior creditors, led by New York investment firm Aurelius Capital Management, need to post a $1.5 billion bond to appeal the plan.
The development comes after the judge approved a plan last month that would give ownership of the company to senior creditors including JPMorgan Chase & Co and downtown L.A. private-equity firm Oaktree Capital Management.
The junior creditors appealed the decision, claiming the plan would unfairly pay them pennies on the dollar for billions in loans.
The bankruptcy stems from real estate developer Sam Zell’s leveraged buyout of the company in 2007, which left Tribune saddled with about $13 billion of debt.
The bond was prompted by Tribune’s position that delaying the reorganization could be financially harmful. If the junior creditors do not come up with the bond by Wednesday, it’s expected that the reorganization plan will continue and the company will begin transferring its TV and radio broadcast licenses to the senior creditors.
New Lineup
KNBC-TV (4) in Burbank announced programming and staffing shakeups in its news operation last week.
The station said that Michael Brownlee is replacing Kathy Vara as a co-anchor on “Today in L.A.,” joining Alycia Lane on the show. Vara is moving to anchor the weekend nightly newscasts at 6 and 11 p.m. Whit Johnson will take over Brownlee’s co-anchor spot on the noon news next month.
“NBC4 News at Noon” also is expanding to an hour and will air noon weekdays.
Staff reporter Jonathan Polakoff can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 549-5225, ext. 226
