Cable nets getting into reality TV

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Executives from some U.S. basic-cable television networks say they are jumping into the reality TV arena.

Networks including TNT, USA and AMC plan to debut their own unscripted adventures of real people to compete with the "Jersey Shore" gang, the Kardasians and various cadres of "Survivors" and "Real Housewives."

"Unscripted storytelling is and will be a vital part of the television landscape forever -- you need look no further than the top 20 programs at any given time for proof of that," said Michael Wright, head of programming at TNT, told the Los Angeles Times.

Topics in development include a series about a U.S. Coast Guard air station in Alaska and more-niche adventures of a comic book store and a private security firm in Georgia. There are also contest shows including "The Great Escape," in which participants try to break out of confinement situations.

The Times said the reality genre has thus far been a combination of solid ratings and relatively low costs, which appear to make it an obvious programming strategy for cable networks.

"Getting into reality will be tricky," media analyst Francois Lee told the Times. "If they do it smartly and give it the best chance to succeed, it can reap great rewards from a viewership standpoint."