There's such a surge of wannabe reality show stars and starlets that there aren't enough spots available on TV to accommodate them, which is why some have taken their shot at fame into their own hands, starting their own reality shows on MySpace. Consider Roommates, a fake reality show on MySpace about four roommates in L.A. "When college ends, the real party begins."
Enticed?
"This is Roommates, a new faux reality show that is getting heavy promotion on MySpace," Forbes explained. "It has the distinction of being the first series conceived by, and exclusively for, the social networking Web site. Episodes are only three minutes. Plot is mostly nonexistent, and it seems to be a ripoff of MTV's The Hills, another show about young women living a reality-nonreality conundrum in L.A."
So, is anyone actually watching their live journal?
"The series' 19 shows have garnered a combined 3.7 million views, about half of what Katie Couric gets in one night. A typical YouTube hit gets 1 million views," Forbes said.
Not bad for a cheeky glimpse into the lives of a group of average girls.
The website also lets fans download the soundtrack, some songs for free, others for $0.99. There's also a polling area on the site, today's questions is, "Do you want to see Justin and Peyton begin dating or just remain friends?" There's also a forum and section to chat about the show.
So, having your own show really isn't that hard anymore. If you've got a social network and an interesting life (the more sex and nudity, the better), finding a sponsor isn't an impossible goal.
A new episode airs every week day at 4 pm EST.
Faux Reality Show
Roommates on MySpace
Trend Themes
1. Wannabe Reality Show Stars - Opportunity for platforms that cater to aspiring reality show stars to create their own shows and gain a following outside of traditional TV.
2. Self-created Reality Shows - Potential for social networking platforms like MySpace to become hubs for individuals to produce and share their own reality shows.
3. Micro-reality Shows - Rise of shorter episode formats, like three-minute episodes, for reality shows that cater to the changing attention spans of online viewers.
Industry Implications
1. Social Networking Platforms - Opportunity for social networking platforms to adapt and offer features that allow users to create and share their own reality shows, potentially attracting a larger user base.
2. Online Video Platforms - Online video platforms can capitalize on the trend by providing tools and resources for individuals to easily produce and distribute their self-created reality shows.
3. Entertainment Sponsorship - Sponsorship opportunities for brands to support self-created reality shows and connect with a younger, online-savvy audience through product placements and endorsements.