Online Media Cultist

Earlier this week, I wrote about highly produced reality television hitting the web in the form of The Next Internet Millionaire. It seems that the web is set for a full on wave of reality shows, two of which are “adventure” shows in the tradition of The Amazing Race and Survivor.

Some kids at Ithaca College in New York are so crazy about The Amazing Race, in fact, that they produced their own version of sorts called simply The Race (found via Reality Blurred. Over 200 hours of footage were culled down to nine hour-long episodes that comprise two seasons of the web-based show.

Even though The Race doesn’t traipse across the globe like its Amazing predecessor (it’s a more modest race across New York) the ability for college students to produce quality shows that mimic (in a flattering way) some of the most popular programs on broadcast television tells you that the future of reality programming is online. Now the real race is to find audiences and figure out the best advertising model. Once a standard is established – and I predict this will happen in the next six to nine months – I think we’re set for a paradigm shift in how “television” is thought of, funded, covered, and viewed.

All that’s needed are one or two breakout shows, and we’re off to the races.

Meanwhile, Around the World for Free hails itself as “the first interactive reality series where the audience is in control and an integral part of the journey. Amazing Race alum Alex Boylan is taking on the challenge of depriving himself of money and resources (save a backpack) while attempting to make it around the globe. Of course, he’ll be filmed the whole way, and the idea is that viewers will be able to write in to offer advice, offer him a place to crash, and so on, with prizes involved. Sounds sort of like a kinder, gentler version of The Running Man! Around The World is also trying to build upon the show in creating a social networking community where people can share their travel experiences.