Chris Sharp, Chief Programming Officer, Reality TV
RTV is focused on providing viewers with the best of true reality television. Our content focuses on the true stories and real life experiences of people.
Reality TV (RTV), the 24-hour channel brought to India by Zone Vision and distributed by Zee Turner, has successfully completed two years in the country. It has enthralled viewers with its distinct programming content and unpredictable, unbelievable and unrehearsed footage.
Chris Sharp, Chief Programming Officer, RTV, who is responsible for overseeing and managing the programming for Zone Vision’s branded channels, had his first stint with the company in 1992. His career in the media industry began in 1986 at Music channel and from there he joined Super channel gaining wide experience in a number of positions in ad sales and finance. In an interview with Sumita Patra of exchange4media, he talks about the programming content of RTV. Excerpts:
Q. Can you share some details of the programmes that act as channel drivers?
Among the more popular programmes on the channel is our series ‘Cheaters’. This programme is focused on naming and shaming those who cheat on their spouses/partners. The series is true to life and has been widely successful in India as well as across our other territories.
Q. RTV is a niche channel. How difficult it has been to position a channel like yours in the Indian market?
RTV is a thematic channel. However, the content has appeal across all segments of viewers. It is the only channel that features 24x7 programming focused on real life experiences and true stories. This is what appeals to viewers. We have also incorporated into the schedule specific content for the Indian market.
Q. How would you describe the channel’s content and focus?
RTV is focused on providing viewers with the best of true reality television. Our content is essentially unstaged. It focuses on the true stories and real life experiences of everyday people.
Q. Would you say that a channel like yours is commercially viable?
Of course, yes! The strong support from Zee Turner team has made RTV a successful brand in India as Zee Turner has the advantage of a well-established distribution network. RTV has the advantage of good programming, effective marketing and a good partner.
Q. Do you plan to enhance the local content? Do you have any India-specific programming on mind?
RTV has been in India for the last two years and is steadily increasing its visibility. We have a strong commitment to the Indian audiences and are here to propagate a trend through capturing completely unrehearsed footage and producing shows, which give audiences a perspective into real life. It took its first step towards localisation of the channel in India by introducing India specific fillers in August 2004. The fillers carried forth our tradition of providing non-stop real life entertainment and the encouraging response that we received from the audience in India further reaffirms our commitment to providing a complete entertainment channel to our viewers. We hope to live up to our commitment in 2005 as well.
Q. How would you define the target audience of your channel?
RTV as a channel appeals to a large base of viewers. The core viewers would be aged between 16-34 years. There is a more or less an equal split between males and females.
Q. What will be the new offerings from Reality TV this year?
RTV has a good line-up of programming that is scheduled to premiere during 2005. The content is a mix of true-life documentaries, cop shows, medical features and some amazing shows that focus on the lighter side of life. We will also have new series of our most popular programme ‘Cheaters’. ‘Morbidly Obese’, ‘Diagnosis Unknown’, ‘City Beat’ and ‘Bald’ are some of the shows that premiered in April. ‘Racing’s Great Escapes’ and ‘Punch like a girl’ are also on the anvil in May. The challenge for 2005 means exploring more challenging subjects, which universally appeal to audiences.
Q. Reality TV has a distinct programming style. Tell us how you source the footage?
It is a channel that can be seen right across the world and as a consequence we are the biggest buyer of reality programmes in the world. We have sourced our programming from the very best producers in the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. As the channel develops, we localise channel feeds and include programming from the market where it is broadcast. That has worked well in Latin America and we intend to do it across all the Reality channels we produce.
