Is Reality TV Cheaper to Produce?
Reality TV shows are generally cheaper to produce than scripted shows. According to an article on Investopedia, a reality show can cost approximately $100,000 to more than $500,000 per episode to produce, which is far less than many scripted shows. Additionally, the changing economics of reality television, as reported by Inc.com, state that for a huge studio show like Dancing With the Stars or American Idol, it could cost upwards of a million dollars an episode.