I am posting this question because there are a few others who might be interested in the answer.

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?

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?

Thanks

Swami

• RE: Question for Webby,SurvivorBlows, 03:22 PM, 12-23-04
  • RE: Question for Webby,Swami, 12:51 PM, 12-24-04

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.

Thanks Webby.

Avi (from Wife Swap) sounded like a real DAW who was very disappointed that he couldn't post here, and his segment had aired when he said he couldn't post with us.

Candida was eliminated last week for Rebel Billionaire. We'll have to see if she comes back.

I wondered if perhaps there had been a general tightening up by the networks on where people can talk about the show. It seems like every reality show now has a network linked message board. And they no doubt want to get as many hits on their message board as possible, so a blanket ban on talking about the show seemed like something they would do if its legal & possible.

I have looked at a few of these show-sponsored message boards if I really like the show. Mostly they are not too appealing. In some of them the heavy hand of the network is visible because they will delete posts and links that they really don't like. The Mad Mad House message board was almost unreadable because every third post was some 14 year old girl offering her body and her blood to Don the Vampire. Funny, yet boring at the same time!

Swami