Our small screen will never have been so fueled by reality TV shows to find a soul mate. The passion of Quebecers for concepts like Double occupation Where Love is in the meadow remains intact, despite the seasons that add up, while new formulas, such as 5 guys for me, trying to win over the public. But why are we passionate about these adventures of strangers who seduce, fall in love and betray each other live? Decryption.
Monday evening, viewers will meet Janie, 35, in search of true love. First participant of the new TVA reality show, 5 guys for me, the bachelor will host five suitors in her home and will have to eliminate one each evening of the week, to keep only one: the chosen one of her heart.
Over the course of the season, eight other women aged 30 to 44 will take part in this experience adapted from the English format each week. Five Guys a Week.
Fans of romantic reality shows will be doubly served this spring, since TVA will also be broadcasting the second edition of the island of love from April 18. The channel also announced the return in 2023 of one of its “greatest hits”, If we loved each otherbefore The duty reveals that the popular docureality sexologist, Louise Sigouin, was the subject of an investigation by the Order of Sexologists.
On the Noovo side, we are preparing for the 16and edition ofDouble occupation this fall, and the channel recently announced the return of Love is in the meadow for a 11and year next winter. Love, do you want it, here it is!
A popular concept
“It’s not new, love has always been a theme. It’s in literature, cinema, television, in our personal stories. I think human beings are always looking for their loved one, so it fills a need. And whether you’re in a relationship or alone, you also like to live it by proxy, ”says Denis Dubois, vice-president of Quebecor content, to explain the success of this type of program.
He points out, for example, that even if the concept of 5 guys for me was unknown to the general public, no less than 6,000 people registered to participate. That’s not to mention the ratings of If we loved each other, which, in the spring of 2021, brought together an average of 760,000 people for the daily meeting. As for the island of love, it was on the Web that it was a hit last fall, with more than 2.4 million views.
The success of love reality shows is also confirmed at Noovo. Love is in the meadow rose to 3and ranking of the most-watched programs on the channel this winter, accumulating more than a million views just on the Internet. Wheras’Double occupation was the channel’s most-watched show this fall, in addition to breaking a web viewing record (more than 21 million).
These results come as no surprise to Pierre Barrette, professor and director of the UQAM School of Media. “Scripted shows often remain far from reality, while reality shows offer to follow ordinary people who live real passions, real failures, real feelings, he notes. We enjoy watching them, talking about them or discussing them with friends. It pushes the public to question the ethics of behavior in society. »
Find love first?
“There is a little voyeur side, and we like to judge the candidates. But people also need to be reassured by comparing themselves to the couples that form before their eyes,” believes Claudie Mercier, former candidate forDouble occupation, who describes herself as a big consumer of romantic reality shows. “Sometimes you say to yourself: ‘hey, we too, we argued about this subject’ or ‘me too, I’ve already been jealous in such a situation’. »
The 26-year-old found love herself during her time at Double occupation in 2019, leaving the adventure on the arm of Mathieu Pellerin. The two lovers now live under the same roof and are engaged.
However, Claudie Mercier does not hide having registered on a whim with the primary goal of “experience new sensations, new adventures”. “I had seen past editions, and finding love there was rare all the same. […] I especially found it fun to live this experience, I had always wanted to do TV, it was the opportunity, ”she confides.
A specialist in Quebec television, Pierre Barrette has indeed noted that the search for love is no longer the primary motivation of candidates in programs such as Double occupation Where the island of love, mainly due to travel, thrilling activities and other gifts. “There is also – and above all – a search for visibility by the candidates, to then gain financial capital”, he says, recalling that several candidates then became influencers or animators.
On the other hand, it is easier to believe that the participants of Love is in the meadow, “which is aimed at an older audience, with more traditional values”, are really looking for a soul mate. The proof is that the show is the one that has created the most lasting couples in Quebec. “Despite the side dating accelerated, it seems to me that 5 guys for me is in the same line. No trip, no gift, you just win by meeting someone, ”notes the professor.
Windfall for broadcasters
Faced with renewed enthusiasm, both on the side of viewers and aspiring candidates, broadcasters have everything to gain by continuing to explore this television vein, believes Mr. Barrette.
It is first of all a means of attracting the youngest generations in front of the television, a very volatile audience that is difficult to reach by the channels, which nevertheless love games of seduction. And it’s also a way to produce at a lower cost.
“Reality TV is cheaper than fiction. Participants come to play, they have to be brought to life, but they are not paid like actors. We don’t pay for scriptwriting either, ”he explains. Not to mention the greater possibility of making product placements, unlike fiction, which is more strictly regulated by laws in this regard.
In Mr. Barrette’s opinion, we risk seeing TVA and Noovo engage in a tough battle in this sector in the coming years. “The channels will continue to buy new concepts, to renew themselves, to look for what works best to attract the public. […] The future certainly holds many more surprises for us in terms of emissions of dating. »