LAST EDITED ON 12-23-04 AT 03:23 PM (EST)>Do you know if Reality TV shows now generally include as
>part of their contract with individuals who appear a stipulation
>that contestants may only discuss the show on their own
>network--and not other places, like here for instance?
I don't believe such clauses are commonplace, I think its simply much more common to restrict a contestant from doing any non-network approved public appearances, interviews, etc. until after the show finishes broadcasting, they get booted, etc.
>Several times in the recent past (Rebel Billionaire, Wife Swap) a
>contestant has briefly posted and then abruptly disappeared. Avi
>from Wife Swap mentioned he had been told to stop
>by his network people.
>
>Is this a rule now?
>
>Even after their show/segment has been broadcast? How does
>that work?
It's not a rule of which I'm aware, although its important to note the "rules" vary not only by network but also by individual production. For every situation that you note above, I can cite numerous situations where network publicists have offered me contestant interview opportunities (gernally via telephone or conference call), however unfortunately I simply don't have the time to take them up on the offers.
The Rebel Millionaire contestant probably fell into the "can't talk before booting" scenario. As for the Wife Swap participant, I have no knowledge of any ABC restrictions, but I would think that the networks would be more concerned with what the contestants were saying -- and in what form it's communicated -- and less concerned with whom they were saying it to.
For example, giving a fansite a one-time phone interview with a contestant is a somewhat structured, controlled situation -- certainly moreso than a ongoing free-form message board exchange.
Plus formal interviews tend to result in "news stories" that are prominently promoted on a site (and therefore generate free PR that might help the viewership of future episodes) -- and, this is just speculation, but unfortunately they probably don't think some postings buried in a site's message board that is visited by only existing viewers of the show have the same PR upside, so why take a risk.
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Swami 
