In European countries many realities beat telenovelas

Reality shows have been captivating most part of the audiences and producing a social effect. In Slovenia, formats like Bachelor, Bachelorette, Bar and Popstars are increasing their audience; while in Croatia, the most popular show today –Big Brother– has widen its share and raised its rating.
In Croatia, Big Brother (second season), broadcasted on channel RTL Televizija, is achieving a huge success for the second time. Meanwhile, the most stunning reality show –which has recently ended– is Bar, a format from Sweden with profit for the Slovenian channel POP TV. Twelve candidates have to run a bar as if it was theirs, earn money, be exceptional and also live together in an apartment.
So with this plot, 24 hours a day, adrenalin invades the audiences that follow what happens in the bar or in the apartment on the Internet and on TV, apart from having the possibility of going to the bar and see their idols live while having a drink with them, since the place for meeting is a bar. Everybody knows who goes to the bar.
This story has created an atmosphere of great expectation not only in the audiences, but also among investors, programmers, and advertisers. Pop TV channel is betting on realities and wants successful formats. For that reason, they made sure of broadcasting the second part of Bachelorette (La mujer de los sueños).
We are talking about reality formats, not telenovelas, but any resemblance to reality is mere coincidence. Formats are starting to create a boom and fiction formats have come a long way within European markets as well as in some parts of Asia and Africa. However, so far the results are great and they are causing a bigger impact than telenovelas.

Statistics, reality show Bar, Slovenia, POP TV. Last weeks on air, from Dec. 12 to Dec. 17, 2005. (Source: AGB Nielsen Media Research). • among viewers between 10 and 75 years old: 12% rating / 34.5% share. • among viewers between 18 and 49 years old: 12.3% rating / 43.2% share. • among viewers between 15 and 34 years old: 14.7% rating / 49.2% share. The end of the show was the most successful; among viewers between 18 and 49 years old it scored a 15.1% rating / 53% share.