Global Reality TV Trends Across Borders: A Look at Preferences

Across the globe, the allure of Reality TV is captivating the streaming services audiences, transcending cultural expectations and boundaries. Which countries and regions are leading in global Reality TV trends? During 2Q 2024, BB Media’s analysis revealed that this niche is most prominent in APAC and UCAN, with a 29% and 28% preference, respectively. LATAM follows at 20%, and EMEA at 19%. Specifically, the top countries favoring Reality TV include South Africa with a staggering 51% preference, followed by India (35%), China (29%), and the United States (28%).  

Exploring Global Reality TV Trends in Regional Offerings 

Now, let’s explore how these global Reality TV trends relate to the actual offerings in different regions. Despite being ranked 2nd by preference, UCAN dominates the Reality TV landscape, featuring the most titles available. UCAN platforms account for 80% of the top 20 Reality TV platforms. Canadian platforms follow with 10% of the top 20, while Brazil and the United Kingdom each hold 5%. 

 Internationally, the production and availability of Reality TV content have surged by about 40.4% since 2021. In 2023 alone, 146 Reality TV titles were released worldwide; some represent new seasons of existing series, while others are new productions. Notable releases this year include FGirl Island and LOL: Last One Laughing South Africa. The United States leads with 74 of these titles (51%), while the United Kingdom produced 11% of the total. 

Top Global Reality TV Titles: Streaming Preferences 

What are some of the most streamed Reality TV titles worldwide? In countries such as Germany, Spain, Poland, Italy, France, Mexico, and the United States, local Reality TV titles are often the most popular. Italy and France show a strong preference for local content, with 3 out of their top 5 titles being local productions. Popular reality shows like LOL: Last One Laughing are adapted to reflect local cultures, while shows like Love is Blind and Physical: 100 are global hits. Additionally, shows like Drag Race and FBOY Island have been produced and released in many countries, including Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Sweden, Spain, Australia, and Denmark, highlighting the universal appeal of Reality TV. 

Reality TV has solidified its status as a global phenomenon, with diverse preferences and growing production across regions. Understanding these global Reality TV trends is essential for engaging audiences worldwide. 

Sources 

BB Media | Multiscreens+ Content Pulse & Content Tracker | Online Media Essentials

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