Reality TV Meets Politics

Drawing on the success of shows like FOX's American Idol and NBC's America’s Got Talent, reality TV producer Mark Burnett has teamed up with popular online peer-to-peer social netorking site MySpace to create a television show that seeks out the best new political voice for the youth of America. In the show, titled Independent, contestants are challenged to tackle issues in order to display their political ideals and beliefs. The show's viewers then offer reviews and present more challenges to the contestants by either calling in to the show or through their MySpace pages.

The winner of the show will get $1 million to be put towards either their own 2008 presidential campaign bid or to give to an organization centered on issues relevant to the nation’s youth.

Burnett hopes that Independent will help “to discover in a big way what America really thinks and bring to light the issues that are closest to those who now finally have a chance to be heard."

Though not yet picked up by a network, the creators hope to begin airing the show sometime in early 2008.

‘Survivor’ creator to launch political reality-TV show

Check out this article from the Boston Herald Business Reporter from today...

‘Survivor’ creator to launch political reality-TV show by Jesse Noyes

Like the reality show “Survivor,” politics is full of plotting, backstabbing and, well, voting.

It seems appropriate then that “Survivor” creator Mark Burnett is teaming up with MySpace [website] to launch “Independent,” a reality show aimed at finding a new generation of politicians.

The gimmick of “Independent” is that users of the social networking giant MySpace will help elect a politician who best reflects the “voice of young Americans.”
Aspiring politicos will be encouraged to post video applications on MySpace and finalists will appear on the television show out on the campaign trail.

The winner of the show will get a $1 million prize, which either must be given to a political campaign or used to run for office.

The show will likely debut in January 2008, said Jeff Berman, general manager for video at MySpace. “We’ve seen an enormous uptick in the political activity on MySpace,” Berman said. “We’re taking our cues from our community and they’re saying they want more when it comes to politics and when it comes to video.”

Just where “Independent” will land is up in the air.

Since MySpace is owned by News Corp. [NWS], which also owns Fox, it would seem Fox would be the likely choice.

But Burnett is planning to pitch a number of networks.

Recently, MySpace has done more relating to politics. Earlier this year, the site created an “Impact” channel, which features profiles for all the current presidential candidates in 2008.

But young voters aren’t known for turning out in huge numbers at the polls, so will they tune into a show all about politics?

Berman said more young voters are getting involved in recent elections. “We are fully confident that there’s going to be a huge following for this,” he said.

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You can read the article here too.