Kids get real

While the adult world can't seem to get enough of reality and non-fiction shows, the genre is only just beginning to take off in kids' programming. Why the lag? "Kids' entertainment has been neglected," says Annie Miles, director of the Talent Kids division at Talent Television, a production company based in London. "Kids' shows cost money - the same amount as adult shows," she says. "But they only get a fraction of the budget." Even a bare-bones production costs £15,000 to £20,000 (US$28,000 to $37,000) per episode, says Miles. An adventure program rings in at £100,000 ($186,000) per episode.

One way to boost funding is to sell formats. Adult reality shows like American Idol, Big Brother and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? have already been doing this for years and have proven to be lucrative. Now the concept is finally percolating down to kids' programming. "If you go back 10 or 20 years, there wasn't much of this happening," says Miles. "Now that has changed dramatically." Networks know when a show works and has proven to be popular. The set is designed; the format is laid out. The show may need some tweaking for sensitivities according to culture or age group, but essentially the production is done. It's not necessarily cheaper, but it minimizes the risk.

Part of the allure of large, branded shows is their mass appeal. Big Brother, for example, is a hit with both adults and children. "When [producers] structure the show, they very much have the teen girl in mind," says Gary Pope, a partner with London-based Kids Industries. "That's implicit in the structure; it's for 12-year-olds and upwards. Whenever it's on, it ranks number one for children." In fact, kids are also watching many other adult reality shows. Nielsen stats show Fear Factor was NBC's hottest show among kids aged two to 11 for the 2003/2004 season. Spider-eating contests may not be the first thing that springs to mind when one thinks of wholesome toddler television, but kids love it. At times the show even outpaced The Wonderful World of Disney and The Simpsons for that same age group.

If all that sounds a little disheartening to producers who fear that established brands like Next Top Model may eat up broadcasters' budgets while pushing out more original programming, look on the bright side: if you do manage to put together a successful show, you could end up with a fantastic source of revenue. Miles' Talent Television, for example, developed a children's show for the BBC called Best Of Friends, a reality show that puts friendships to the test with various challenges. Now two years old, it consistently ranks among the top ten children's shows in the UK. "Because of that, I'm getting lots of inquiries [from international programmers] asking if there's a show for them," says Miles.

If you do plan to dive into children's reality and non-fiction, there are a few caveats to keep in mind. "Kids' reality television requires a lot more sensitivity," says Miles. "Reality television can be a real torture chamber. That is not what kids' reality television is about. You can't take advantage of a kid's naïveté." Still, producers push the boundaries, albeit cautiously. When BBC4 and Endemol coproduced Teen Big Brother, which aired in 2003, the show had already done a discreet test run online, and "it was closely monitored by psychologists," says Kids Industries' Pope. And that's for a show where all the contestants are 18 years old - downright elderly in kid years.