http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/ Engadget HD Comments for Reality TV pushing HD off as long as possible http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 5:06PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 5:59PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/
Yeah I imagine I am odd. I had the 20" tv mounted in my living room a while ago and I did not want to take it off the wall. Also have one mounted in my bedroom. I have a 32" high def Tv in my bedroom that has not been on in months. And like I said I basically have only turned on the one in my living room to watch a movie (like when I go all out and make popcorn) or when I watch football. And I find the difference between the SD dvd's and the High Def ones to be kind of minimal. Perhaps clearer but does not greatly enhance the actual movie. I was turning on the big screen and watching it but watched a lot of TVLand and channels and shows like that and just figured this is stupid to turn on all this on and just started watching the 20" and rarely go through the trouble of turning it off and turning the other on even during prime time. I guess I am odd. I imagine someday all shows will be in HD and I will take the small one off the wall and patch it up.]]>Feb 20th 2008 7:02PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 5:25PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 5:58PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 6:04PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 6:30PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 6:08PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 6:11PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/
The cost involved in camera rental for a single camera narrative vs a HUGE multi-camera shoot like Survivor is significant. Most of those types of shows have around 10 cameras shooting at any given time. That's some serious cash...

Also, the cost added to post-production cannot be discounted.

As the prices of cameras comes down, some shows are beginning to explore the idea of moving to HD, but at the end of the day - unless people stop watching them as-is, why would they invest the money?]]>Feb 20th 2008 6:15PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/
Of course, I think a wide-screen format would probably require significant extra cost for cartoons, as 50% extra has to be drawn...]]>Feb 20th 2008 6:22PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/
Cartoon Network HD was disappointing for me. It looked good, but it was in stretch-o-vision most of the time.
]]>Feb 20th 2008 6:54PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 6:47PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/
They're afraid the normal-looking (and sometimes BAD looking) people on reality shows will SCARE the audience if they're seen in HD.

Think back. Wasn't that Richard guy always naked, and always hairy?

I never watch these shows, but I cannot imagine wanting to see them in HD. Hell, I'd like to see them go away entirely!]]>Feb 20th 2008 6:51PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 7:06PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 8:04PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/
As for post, most of the edit suites I imagine they're onlining these shows in, like Avid Adrenalines, are pretty cheap on a grand scale to upgrade to full HD capability.

I think another reason for not going HD is theses shows aren't as concerned about future-proofing - reality TV doesn't have the DVD after-life that dramatic series do. Many a low-rated drama is saved by potential DVD/Blu-Ray sales in the future, but reality doesn't get the same margin of error.]]>Feb 20th 2008 8:08PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 20th 2008 10:47PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 21st 2008 7:06AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 21st 2008 8:37AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 21st 2008 8:16AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/
]]>Feb 21st 2008 10:23AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/
Look, as many have already said, it ALL COMES DOWN TO PROFIT MARGIN. The only reason networks are so in love with Reality and Gameshow TV is because relative to Scripted shows, Reality/Gameshow programs have a MUCH higher Profit-to-Cost ratio. I'd guess ad dollar buys are relatively equal between scripted vs reality TV (with the exception of blockbuster shows), but RealityTV requires very little production support relative to scripted shows making them cheap to produce.... few to no writers, little to no lighting/set design/set construction, no FX & CGI studio support, etc... Anything, and I mean ANYTHING, that increases production costs in the slightest for Reality TV isn't viewed as beneficial by the networks.

Reality TV is akin to printing money. If you're minting nickels, you don't use 24k gold. You use zinc. If you're making dog food, you don't grind up Kobe beef... It's just bad economics.]]>Feb 21st 2008 12:48PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/20/reality-tv-pushing-hd-off-as-long-as-possible/Feb 21st 2008 2:32PM