The Challenge: Rivals - Ratings

[QUOTE=SPK713;272896]7/8 people in a house, partying during the night, trying to pick up chicks.... one's with all guidoes, ones with a diverse cast... it's pretty comparable.[/QUOTE] What? I'm talking about comparing those shows to the challenges. It's not the same type of show.

[QUOTE=jesses_girl;272900]What? I'm talking about comparing those shows to the challenges. It's not the same type of show.[/QUOTE] All I saw was Real World Las Vegas and Jersey Shore bolded and then you saying it can't be compared :D My apologies.

We can't lose the hope challenges must be renewed! Rivals has good ratings, lets make a petition or something like that

[QUOTE=josePortugal;273008]We can't lose the hope challenges must be renewed! Rivals has good ratings, lets make a petition or something like that[/QUOTE] I'm not an expert... but I'm pretty sure this is business. Petitions and caring for the few fans who want more is not an issue, money is.

Does it make a big difference that the challenges don't do well in other countries? Because the last challenge I've seen on Dutch tv was Inferno 3 I think.

In MTV Portugal I've seen The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet 3, The Island, Fresh Meat 2 and Cutthroat, I don't know why but The Duel 2 and The Ruins haven't been transmitted.

I don't think it's a positive sign that there isn't a Rivals marathon on today. Last weeks episode isn't even showing.

[QUOTE=jesses_girl;273078]I don't think it's a positive sign that there isn't a Rivals marathon on today. Last weeks episode isn't even showing.[/QUOTE] The last 4 episodes were listed on my cable grid as being on MTV2 starting at 7:00 AM today (I watched last week's episode on that channel at 11:00 AM). It also showed last week's episode as airing on MTV at 12:30 PM. But I agree, they should have had the entire run of the challenge on one of the MTV channels today (preferably the main network). I sure hope someone makes a decision about renewal soon even if it's bad news because we're all on pins and needles. From reading the Ratings forum, it seems like the ratings for each episode are usually known the next day so maybe BMP will throw us a bone. I imagine they have a magic number in mind as to the average rating of the entire challenge that they need for renewal so maybe we'll get some news soon. I hope they're not so crass as to just leave us hanging without bothering to tell us anything.

Is it possible for another channel to pick the format up?

[QUOTE=dagr317;273082]I sure hope someone makes a decision about renewal soon even if it's bad news because we're all on pins and needles. From reading the Ratings forum, it seems like the ratings for each episode are usually known the next day so maybe BMP will throw us a bone. I imagine they have a magic number in mind as to the average rating of the entire challenge that they need for renewal so maybe we'll get some news soon. I hope they're not so crass as to just leave us hanging without bothering to tell us anything.[/QUOTE] Maybe they're waiting to see the buzz (or lack thereof) that comes from the RW: SD trailers and promotion. Maybe they're just indecisive. As of a couple of weeks ago, a decision still had not been made (so it's not like they're keeping anything from us). I would expect a decision to come some time in the next month or so, but who knows? [QUOTE=ILoveRW;273084]Is it possible for another channel to pick the format up?[/QUOTE] Anything's possible, but highly unlikely.

They could not decide to renew it yet but just leave it sitting around without ever formally announcing anything waiting to see how their fall line-up does or some big new idea to come along. If it went to another channel, I would think it would end up being a Viacom channel. I don't think petitions or anything else would make a difference. They will renew it or they won't based on whatever their Magic 8 Ball tells them is the most profitable way to go.

Yea. I could also them taking the challenge away for a while 9-12 months and then bringing it back depending on how their new shows are received. They could also pull a road rules and step away for some years and try to come back. That didn't work to well last time though.

[QUOTE=josePortugal;273065]In MTV Portugal I've seen The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet 3, The Island, Fresh Meat 2 and Cutthroat, I don't know why but The Duel 2 and The Ruins haven't been transmitted.[/QUOTE] I've seen Battle of the Sexes 2, and Fresh Meat along with those challenges that you mentioned. Not sure if The Ruins aired though.

Adam King and Leroy were just ustreaming and they sounded positive that it was coming back.

[QUOTE=Camille;273388]Adam King and Leroy were just ustreaming and they sounded positive that it was coming back.[/QUOTE] I think its coming back, I've got a feeling

[QUOTE=josePortugal;273392]I think its coming back, i got a feeling[/QUOTE] I think that's the feeling of shock that Paula finally won a challenge. :biggrin: I'm optimistic about the future of the show, but all we can do is wait.

Yea I saw that stream and Adam was very positive in his actions. I don't know if he is just talking out of his butt but he was like, "We are coming back, new alliances, new people!" I mean, unless he knows something I think that was a little out there. Oh well, I feel the show did nearly everything it could to make its case. I personally disliked most of the challenges the people did but the teams and final were all great. I think B&M pulled out all the stops this time.

These ratings are really bad if you take into account the little competition it had.

I think even with the decent ratings this season the show could very well be done, because ratings of the last few seasons kinda sucked :s Unless MTV shows mercy and give them a new contract aslong as BMP can keep it up with such extreme challenges, because thats appearantly what they need to get better ratings.

It's too bad MTV's target demo isn't [I]me[/I]... I grew up on stuff like Takeshi's Castle, American Gladiators and Nickelodeon Guts (later Ninja Warrior, Unbeatable Banzuke, Wipeout etc) so athletics-based competition shows are my bread and butter. That the cast is comprised of people I've already (emotionally) invested time in from other shows (FMers aside) is just an awesome bonus. I have 3 weeks before I'm back home and can catch up on the last 2 seasons of Challenges; many comments here imply that the events suck compared to years past. Of course, they show less and less of the actual challenge events in the ~40 minutes we see now, and more of the stuff at the house which is kind of a drag. V1Man mentioned several posts back that he's not convinced there are many new viewers within the demo to pull in, and for whatever reason many old viewers refuse to watch it now. Correlation? Or is there really a large chunk of people only interested in viewing the shows if person X competes? I love the concept behind the shows so I would watch no matter who was cast.

[QUOTE=CastAStone;270243]If they announced that they cancelled RJ Berger but didn't mention The Challenge, that almost certainly means no decision has been made. MTV historically has announced cancellations in bunches.[/QUOTE] I heard MTV renewed The Challenge. (see link) [url=http://www.yorkblog.com/flipside/2011/06/the-cereal-serial-061011-maewy.html]The cereal serial 06/10/11: Maewyn's renews lease; MTV cancels skins; Community meetings - FlipSide Blog[/url]

[QUOTE=brunett;273584]I heard MTV renewed The Challenge. (see link) [url=http://www.yorkblog.com/flipside/2011/06/the-cereal-serial-061011-maewy.html]The cereal serial 06/10/11: Maewyn's renews lease; MTV cancels skins; Community meetings - FlipSide Blog[/url][/QUOTE] The challenge renewal solely relies on mtv. If mtv finds another breakout reality shows like (jersey shore/teen moms), they would just cancel it since its their lowest rated reality show.

Only problem is... that article is 2 months old. Pretty sure there are one or two certain individuals here who would have heard about that and confirmed it if it were true.

Looking at San Diego, they are still filming and the premiere is only 5 weeks away while normally the premiere is around two months after their departure. It seems like they would be moving it up to coincide with potential filming of a challenge.

[QUOTE=brunett;273584]I heard MTV renewed The Challenge. (see link) [url=http://www.yorkblog.com/flipside/2011/06/the-cereal-serial-061011-maewy.html]The cereal serial 06/10/11: Maewyn's renews lease; MTV cancels skins; Community meetings - FlipSide Blog[/url][/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Aereas;273590]Only problem is... that article is 2 months old. Pretty sure there are one or two certain individuals here who would have heard about that and confirmed it if it were true.[/QUOTE] I spoke with the reporter today. Lovely person. She thinks she may have seen something on a blog or website that prompted her one-line report of the series renewal. No other source or MTV press release that everyone else in the industry missed. [This is from a local newpaper in York, PA.] Confidence in the accuracy of the renewal report as of June 11? <5% There may be other reasons to think more positively about a season renewal. This article is not one of them.

[QUOTE=V1man;273629]I spoke with the reporter today. Lovely person. She thinks she may have seen something on a blog or website that prompted her one-line report of the series renewal. No other source or MTV press release that everyone else in the industry missed. [This is from a local newpaper in York, PA.] Confidence in the accuracy of the renewal report as of June 11? <5% [B] There may be other reasons to think more positively about a season renewal[/B]. This article is not one of them.[/QUOTE] That you know of or just a possibility?

[QUOTE=Skeet;273633]That you [B]know[/B] of or just a possibility?[/QUOTE] As written: "[B]other reasons"[/B] But there are some negative things privately known as well that I can not share without compromising the source. I have one foot firmly planted in "renewal" and another in "no renewal [I]at this time[/I]." If I were the decision-maker at MTV, I'd fund one more challenge for early Fall shooting, with a smaller budget than for "Rivals," and include at least two or three people from the new San Diego cast. (riding the Mike/LeeRoy rookie wave og renewed interest attributable in part to the success of RW: Vegas II) I'd want to see if, at a reduced cost, the ratings from ''Rivals" were sustainable in another challenge. Then I'd make a longer-term decision. MTV, of course, hasn't sought out my opinion, but sometimes I work cheap! ;)

Don't see how they could do an early fall shooting starting from scratch in late August. I do believe one of the challenges of the challenges is getting people from the more recent seasons of RW on. If the target demo is teenagers, the more recent season casts are going to be the only ones who pull them in for the fan followers because most were not viewers when some of these people's seasons aired.

[QUOTE=V1man;273639]As written: "[B]other reasons"[/B] But there are some negative things privately known as well that I can not share without compromising the source. I have one foot firmly planted in "renewal" and another in "no renewal [I]at this time[/I]." If I were the decision-maker at MTV, I'd fund one more challenge for early Fall shooting, with a smaller budget than for "Rivals," and include at least two or three people from the new San Diego cast. (riding the Mike/LeeRoy rookie wave og renewed interest attributable in part to the success of RW: Vegas II) I'd want to see if, at a reduced cost, the ratings from ''Rivals" were sustainable in another challenge. Then I'd make a longer-term decision. MTV, of course, hasn't sought out my opinion, but sometimes I work cheap! ;)[/QUOTE] This is probably a futile attempt, but could/would you throw out a ball park number for the "Rivals" production budget? I'm interested that you mentioned implementing a smaller budget because of several cast members mentioning that they had received a raise or more compensation from BMP. If I remember correctly, Jenn claimed credit for it on one of the RTV zone recaps hosted by Katie and Robin. Probably another shot in the dark, but how much do the cast members make from appearing on a season? Ps. I understand completely if this is too much to ask. [COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Also I am assuming that the negative things you alluded to are far worse than the above ... so please don't take this question as me asking you to clarify the mentioned [QUOTE]other reasons [/QUOTE] when you just stated that you would not. If it is a part of the taboo issues then my apologies.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[QUOTE=FishHooks;273647]Don't see how they could do an early fall shooting starting from scratch in late August. I do believe one of the challenges of the challenges is getting people from the more recent seasons of RW on. If the target demo is teenagers, the more recent season casts are going to be the only ones who pull them in for the fan followers because most were not viewers when some of these people's seasons aired.[/QUOTE] From scratch? No at all. My impression from conversations with BMP executives back when we actually talked is that they could pull planning books from their bookcases with multiple types of challenges with multiple options for cast and location for each version. The only one I'm confident they don't have a current plan for is a repeat of Battle of the Sexes because Jon Murray said in 2008 that it's too difficult to produce fairly for both sexes. [QUOTE=Sláinte;273660]This is probably a futile attempt, but could/would you throw out a ball park number for the "Rivals" production budget? I'm interested that you mentioned implementing a smaller budget because of several cast members mentioning that they had received a raise or more compensation from BMP. If I remember correctly, Jenn claimed credit for it on one of the RTV zone recaps hosted by Katie and Robin. Probably another shot in the dark, but how much do the cast members make from appearing on a season? Ps. I understand completely if this is too much to ask. [COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Also I am assuming that the negative things you alluded to are far worse than the above ... so please don't take this question as me asking you to clarify the mentioned when you just stated that you would not. If it is a part of the taboo issues then my apologies.[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] The cast budget budget is not a major driver of overall cost, but I don't doubt there is substantial truth behind the reportedly small increase in pay to cast members for Rivals. What cast members are actually paid is a clause in their contract, and I don't discuss what is in anyone's actual contract. There are numerous ways to achieve cost savings in reality TV, and certainly on the challenges. It has been a long time since a challenge was shot in the US, and I believe it is very practical to shoot on in the Fall at significant savings over that cost of Rivals, if only in airfare.