The Communication Studies Of Talent-search Reality Shows In China

Reality show, as a mode of TV entertainment program introduced from America and Europe, has been developing in China for a period of seven years. Among others, those talent-search reality shows, led by "Super Girls", "Dream China", "My Show", "Come on! Good Boy", have attracted numerous TV viewers, thanks to these programs' unique glamour. Such a phenomenon in turn calls the attention of the scholarly and theoretical academia. In 2007, reality shows characterized with draft encountered their "turning-point": the once super-popular "Super Girls" gave way to "Happy Boys"; "Dream China" established by CCTV and dozens of provincial TV stations came to an end; "The First-Time Being Moved" produced by Chong-qing TV was suspended by State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT). These developments prompt the TV scholars and experts in China to think over a question, that is, where these talent-search shows would lead to.This paper attempts to start with an analysis of the evolution of the reality shows featured with talent-search, drawing on the relevant theories of communication studies, such as "Silent Spiral", "Use and Gratifications", "From One-way Communication to Interactive Communication", "Effect Analysis" and "Addressees as Market". By means of specific case studies, this paper will stress and sort out the problems in existence, and make causal analysis. A pivotal issue in view is the improvement of program's quality. In addition, by taking other elements into consideration, such as cross-media operation and program marketing, this paper intends to put forward a solution or method to address those current problems. The ultimate argument will lie in the localization of program. Such is the global logic of this paper.In the first chapter, this paper briefly introduces the connotations, features and categories of reality show as a whole. In the second part, this paper illustrates the evolution of talent-search shows in China by employing the relevant theories in communication studies. Here, "My Show" produced by Shanghai Dragon TV is examined in details and in depth. The program itself and its social effect are discussed in a way to elicit the current problems existing in talent-search shows in China. The causes are also discussed in this part. In the third chapter, based on the problems and the causal analyses, this paper puts forward some solutions from four perspectives, which are the localization of program content, of program producers, of program brand name, and of program supervision. Hopefully, this study would further the exploration of the localization of talent-search reality show in China.