‘Love and dating are super related’: Why Netflix is ​​doubling down on actual romance

After the huge success of “Love is Blind” and “Too Hot To Handle,” Netflix knows one thing for sure: Its viewers are thirsty for reality dating shows.

So it’s no surprise that in March, the streaming service announced that “love is not out of season.” Meaning, the streamer will bring eight shows in this genre — some new, like “Jewish Matchmaking” and others coming back — to viewers over the next year. The company even made the announcement via a catchy tune, sung by “Love is Blind” co-host Nick Lachey and some favorite faces from across the Netflix reality-dating universe.

“There are a number of categories like dating and relationships that have proven to be fertile ground for things that viewers really enjoy watching,” said Brandon Riegg, VP of documentary and no-description. Netflix. “Our job was to start building services in different categories and figure out which approach resonated the most with our members.”

The key to that: Show authentic and relevant.

“Love and dating are easy to understand,” says Riegg. “These shows have to reflect the truth and relativity you see in your own lives or the lives of friends and colleagues. It was really a North Star for us as we were checking. check out these projects.”

Netflix’s decision to expand blocking media comes as other studios and broadcasters also double down on the genre.

Long before streaming services even existed, ABC reigned supreme with its “Bachelor” franchise and spin-offs. Now, there’s no shortage of shows in this genre – shows like “FBOY Island” and “My Mom, Your Dad” on HBO Max; “90 Day Fiance” on TLC; and “Love Island”, which premiered in the UK and is now available in the US on Paramount+.

“There’s a lot of great programming on cable and other streaming services that are entering that space,” says Riegg. “It’s not like we’re the only ones doing it. But I’m proud of what we did with it.”

“It’s an evergreen variety,” he added.

All in this category has paid off. Equal MSNBC columnist Emma Gray In its latest paper, “the rise of streaming services combined with a global pandemic have created the optimal conditions for a reality TV renaissance: lower budgets, rounds of tighter filming, fewer locations, and the public is stuck at home, ready to watch the content.”

Grey, co-host of the “Love to See It” podcast, said: “Our appetites are voracious – for love, for the route, for people doing it wrong so we can reassure ourselves that We’re doing something right.” which dissects reality TV shows.

‘The Ultimatum’ Is Netflix’s Latest

Netflix’s latest production is “The Ultimatum,” which premieres Wednesday. It features six couples who decided to take part in the show aka “testing” as many of them call it because one was ready to get married, while the other Not pretty sure. So an ultimatum is given – and in just over eight weeks, they must either commit to marriage, or move on.

“I think every human being on this planet wants to be loved for who they are on the inside,” says executive producer Chris Coelen, CEO of Kinetic Content, the company behind “Love is Blind.” , said.

“‘The Ultimatum’ is one of those archetypes you hear about of our world,” he added. “It’s also related … every person of a certain age or age who has been in a relationship, is in an emotional or spiritual place where they are considering a long-term commitment. long with someone. Everyone [in that situation] have thought about am i going further than my partner? If you’ve never been in that situation, it’s unusual but you know people who have been in it. “

Coelen said he loves the relationship genre because there are “all ways to look at relationships and all kinds of points that people gain in relationships.”

“It’s very real and the stakes are high and can have a really long-term positive impact for people who go into these programs,” he said.

As of Thursday afternoon, “Ultimatum” is rating no. 2 in the US, Riegg noted.

“It just shows we found that great spot,” he said.

What makes a good reality dating show?

At home, viewers see an edited version of “reality”. For the producers of these shows, the behind-the-scenes process is equally enthralling.

For “Love is Blind,” for example, Coelen said they had more than 30,000 hours of footage to sift through. There were engaged couples that weren’t even present at the end of the show.

So what makes a good reality dating show? How do producers know what to include and what to omit?

“If there was a magic formula, we should copyright it and use it,” joked Coelen. “I’m half joking, half serious.”

Cian O’Clery, director and executive producer of the “Love On The Spectrum” series, said there’s a space for so many different styles of reality dating shows, which is what makes the genre the genre. become interesting.

His reality series, which Netflix will release in the US this year, follows people with autism as they navigate the worlds of dating and relationships.

“As anything, it’s all about the storytelling and the characters,” he said of what makes a show compelling. “I think it’s all about people connecting with people on screen and wanting to join them on their journey.”

Of course, says O’Clery, “some reality dating shows work when you have villains and drama and conflict.” However, he believes some “work just as well when it’s just about connecting and people trying to find that special someone.”

Viki Kolar, an executive producer of “Too Hot To Handle,” agrees.

“When shows try to get too distracted with that, when dramas are just for dramatic purposes, people shut down,” she said.

“Really I think what makes it good is that the people up there are trustworthy,” she said. “When you’re there and you watch it, they fall in love. It’s obvious that real life has [after the show wraps]. But in that moment, being guided by someone who makes them honest about their feelings, what makes it good is that they’re following their true feelings. Yes, we are manufacturing, [but] We do not produce fakes. We are just guiding. “

The reality dating show genre has been described by O’Clery as “a renaissance in the present moment.”

“What’s interesting is that the space is expanding in different ways,” he said. “They’re not all shows like ‘The Bachelor.’ We are having different views.”

at Blogtuan.info – Source: nbcnews.com – Read the original article here