ABSTRACT
Nearly every television station in Indonesia broadcasts reality television pro-
grammes, and in the past few years there have been over 50 different reality
shows produced locally but often based on or inspired by foreign formats.
Replacing direct foreign imports in many cases, format adaptations of reality
shows are one example of Indonesia’s participation in global television and
are a prominent feature of the television landscape in post-Suharto Indo-
nesia. Although there is extensive debate over what is actually meant by
reality television, the defining characteristic of the genre is that programmes are largely unscripted, the stars being real people in extraordinary circum-
stances who are often competing for the chance to improve their lives (Hill
2005). Reality shows also allow viewers to ‘see for themselves’, which has
become a key attraction, changing the relationship between viewer and
screen into something more intimate and participatory than ever before.
