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15-05-2019 05:52 PM |
MPs launch inquiry into ALL reality TV (e.g. Love Island), following Jeremy Kyle axe
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ITV’s treatment of reality show contestants will be scrutinised by parliament following the death of former guests on The Jeremy Kyle Show and Love Island, a decision that could have major commercial implications for the broadcaster.
Damian Collins MP said the digital, culture, media and sport select committee, which he chairs, would launch a formal inquiry into the British reality TV programme industry. ITV executives are expected to be called to parliament to give evidence in public hearings on the level of aftercare and mental health support offered to participants.
The MPs will consider whether there should be stricter regulations on how contestants are treated on air and whether certain programmes place “unfair psychological pressure on participants and encourage more extreme behaviour”.
Although the inquiry will look at the entire reality TV industry, ITV will be under particular scrutiny as the committee decided to set up the inquiry in response to the death last week of the Jeremy Kyle guest Steve Dymond, which prompted the cancellation of the long-running daytime chat show.
ITV axes Jeremy Kyle Show after death of participant
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Collins also specifically referred to the recent suicides of former Love Island contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon.
Both The Jeremy Kyle Show and Love Island are made by ITV, which is one of the main producers of reality TV in the UK. Tighter regulation that could increase costs and make programmes less entertaining could hit the bottom line at the broadcaster, whose share price has fallen in recent months. ITV is already reviewing the support offered to Love Island contestants, before the highly profitable show’s return next month.
Collins, whose committee has previously targeted Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, said: “ITV has made the right decision to permanently cancel The Jeremy Kyle Show. However, that should not be the end of the matter. There needs to be an independent review of the duty of care TV companies have to participants in reality TV shows and the DCMS select committee has decided to hold an inquiry this summer into these issues. “
The inquiry is now seeking evidence from broadcasters and members of the public on the level of psychological support offered by production companies before, during and after programmes – and whether a media regulator should be responsible for monitoring proceedings.
Collins said: “Programmes like The Jeremy Kyle Show risk putting people who might be vulnerable on to a public stage at a point in their lives when they are unable to foresee the consequences, either for themselves or their families. This kind of TV featuring members of the public attracts viewing figures in the millions but in return for ratings, the broadcasters must demonstrate their duty of care to the people whose personal lives are being exposed.
“With an increasing demand for this type of programming, we’ll be examining broadcasting regulation in this area – is it fit for purpose?”
https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...d-guest-deaths
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Quote:
MPs have launched an inquiry into reality television following the announcement The Jeremy Kyle Show would be axed.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee announced the probe today, hours after the reality show was scrapped after the suspected suicide of one of the guests who appeared on the show: Steve Dymond, 63.
The programme, which had been a regular fixture in the TV schedule since 2005, has now ended for good following calls for it to be cancelled from MPs and members of the public.
The committee said the broadcaster “made the right decision” in cancelling the show, but “that should not be the end of the matter”.
A statement read: “ITV has made the right decision to permanently cancel the Jeremy Kyle Show. However, that should not be the end of the matter.
“There needs to be an independent review of the duty of care TV companies have to participants in reality TV shows and the DCMS select committee has decided to hold an inquiry this summer into these issues.
“Programmes like The Jeremy Kyle Show risk putting people who might be vulnerable on to a public stage at a point in their lives when they are unable to foresee the consequences, either for themselves or their families.
“This kind of TV featuring members of the public attracts viewing figures in the millions but in return for ratings, the broadcasters must demonstrate their duty of care to the people whose personal lives are being exposed.
“With an increasing demand for this type of programming, we’ll be examining broadcasting regulation in this area – is it fit for purpose?”
ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall announced on Wednesday morning that the show had been officially cancelled "given the gravity of recent events".
She said in a statement: "The Jeremy Kyle Show has had a loyal audience and has been made by a dedicated production team for 14 years, but now is the right time for the show to end.
"Everyone at ITV's thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of Steve Dymond."
The broadcaster said it will continue to work with Kyle on other projects, but it has not specified what those will be.
Before the programme was axed, Dame Carolyn had told ITV staff in an email that halting filming and broadcasting of the show was "the best way we think we can protect the show and the production team" from the reaction to Mr Dymond's death.
Mr Kyle has yet to comment personally on the show's cancellation.
Mr Dymond's body was found at an address in Grafton Street, Portsmouth, on May 9.
Hampshire Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.
On Tuesday, culture secretary Jeremy Wright said it was a "deeply concerning case" as he called for broadcasters and production companies to have "appropriate levels of support in place".
Hundreds of people shared their distaste for ITV after the channel scrapped The Jeremy Kyle Show, but made no announcement about series Love Island, despite the deaths of two contestants who appeared on the ITV2 show.
Following the death of Love Island star Mike Thalassitis earlier this year, ITV said its "duty of care is a continuous and ongoing process for each (Love) Islander".
The broadcaster added that a review had led it to "extend our support processes to offer therapy to all Islanders and not only those that reach out to us. And we will be delivering bespoke training to all future Islanders to include social media and financial management".
The broadcaster said it would also no longer be "reliant on the Islanders asking us for support but for us to proactively check in with them on a regular basis".
The new series of Love Island is expected air on ITV2 next month.
ITV will announce what will replace The Jeremy Kyle Show in the TV schedule in due course.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/m...-a4143261.html
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