The 13 competition categories: Factual Entertainment
We bring you the 13 categories featured in this year’s competition along with a precise definition, example videos and an interview with a prominent expert in the field.
6. Category: Factual Entertainment
Definition:
Programmes that focus on participants and their lives within a contrived and challenging environment, such as documentary style reality programmes, social experiments, and reality talk shows.
Between 1961 and 1992 the Rose d’Or Festival awarded three different prizes: the Golden Rose, the Silver Rose and the Bronze Rose. From 2003 – ten years after the first categories were introduced – Factual Entertainment became an integral part of the Rose d’Or Competition with a separate competition category.
The first Golden Rose-winning Factual Entertainment Shows were 12 Yard’s Men Are Better Than Women At…? (Silver Rose 2003) and Channel 4's Wife Swap (Golden Rose 2004).
The Factual Entertainment Interview with Karoline Spodsberg
Karoline Spodsberg is Managing Director at Banijay International. After graduating from university with a Masters degree in International Sales and Marketing, Karoline joined MTV Production (today part of Zodiak Televison). She was a central force in setting up the new sales arm of the company, and played a key role in building up the distribution business into what is known today as Zodiak Rights. Karoline spent two years as Head of Programming at TV3 in Denmark, before being appointed International Director at Nordisk Film TV. She was recruited to set up a new international division, where she oversaw group-wide format acquistions across the four production units as well as Nordisk Film TV World, Nordisk Film International’s distribution arm. In 2010, Nordisk Film TV World became part of France-based international conglomerate Banijay Entertainment. Karoline was appointed Managing Director of the new international division, Banijay International, overseeing both distribution and acquisitions for the group. Banijay International has become a competitive player in the international distribution arena with a portfolio including My Parents Are Gonna Love You, 71 Degrees North, Love Games and Sold!, as well as third-party formats including Superstar Ding Dong, The Secret Tourist, One Night Stand and The People’s Quiz.
1. Can you give us an example of a typical Factual Entertainment format?
For me, Supernanny is a great example of Factual Entertainment at its best. It’s character-driven, and there’s a focus on coaching or helping the participants and by extension the audience on a topic relevant to their lives, rather than just being voyeuristic.
2. Is there a Factual Entertainment format you would have loved to have created yourself?
Supernanny again, for all the reasons above, and of course because it is successful.
3. What is the future for Factual Entertainment?
The trend in Factual Entertainment is towards less constructed, more character-driven formats. It’s more about the people and the real stories behind them and less about keeping format pillars recognisable. This has also changed the definitions of formats. Today buyers buy as much track record and production know-how as a strictly formatised concept.
4. Do you see emerging markets and even emerging sub-genres?
Our important emerging markets right now are the Middle East and South America. They have really begun to get into the format game in the last few years, both as consumers and producers. We have several shows on air in the Middle East, such as The People’s Quiz, which are doing very well.
5. Which programme would you currently not miss for the world?
I love shows that my whole family can watch and engage in together, so X-Factor is popular in my house. I love the Voice Of Holland and I have a strong belief in that format. I also like shows that put an important factual spotlight on relevant issues, and Undercover Boss is an example of a show like that I love to watch.
Factual Entertainment example video: Whack n’ Munch
