Who is watching who?
Jupiter is what one might call a reality TV buff. After discovering Fear Factor, he also started to watch other reality based programs and competitions such as American Idol, Survivor, and Joe Schmoe.
The 20-something public relations assistant manager said reality shows’ diversion from predictable and dramatic soap operas, and slapstick sitcoms oparked his interest as a viewer. This is the same reason why he now follows the everyday progress of 12 individuals vying for the P1-million prize at the Pinoy Big Brother house.
“It has the appeal of what’s real and what’s raw. I can also relate to the situations better compared to the situations in canned shows,” Jupiter said. Not only has he been watching the show closely, he also gets updates from other Pinoy Big Brother fans through a mailing list on the internet.
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.’s Pinoy Big Brotheris the latest craze among avid TV viewers. It locks up 12 participants in a house full of cameras, and clips are later shown for prime-time and late-night viewing. Full 24-hour access is also possible via pay-per-view mode through the internet and SkyCable — and pay P1,500 for the privilege.
During the 100 days of lockup, participants are given tasks to complete either with each other or individually, while at the same time trying to please everyone so as not to get booted off the show. The last man standing will get P1 million in cold cash, a car, and a house and lot package. ABS-CBN brought the Big Brother franchise from Dutch production outfit Endemol in an attempt to boost its prime-time ratings, which have been sagging since last year.
Pinoy Big Brother is based on an international reality show and the Big Brother format is used in 31 other countries. In more liberal societies, networks respect no borders as they show sexual encounters on air, reaping a reputation that the show encourages voyeurism. Conservative as Filipinos are known to be, the local version of Big Brother has caught the attention of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
[source: Business World Weekender article]
