Reality TV

[johnflemming]

Why are sounds played to mask 'real' sounds on reality programmes? These background recorded sounds can't be to mask hearsay or deffamation of third-parrty chacater because sometimes no one is talking!! Why the "legal requirement" for seemingly random masking of sound? I am thuinking of "I'm A Celebrity Get Me Outta Here" and "Big Brother".

[Mattk]

mainly because the subject matter could be potentially libalous - also it may not be fit for broadcast at certain hours of the day

[johnflemming]

No that's not it. Sometimes they are not talking or definately not talking about anyone. So that is not the correct answer. That is why I am asking.

[billywhizz]

I thnk Mattk's right.  Although no one appears to be talking, there is s clear delay on the transmission allowing the editors time to press the button to exclude all speech within a certain time period.  The sound may be blacked out for about 30 seconds when only a few words may have been spoken in that time..

[Cheesefreek]

Get a grip johnfleeming love!!!!

[johnflemming]

I swear I didn't do all that repetition manually. Must be a glitch. Sorry guys. Still not convinced of the answer though.

[andy hughes]

Although the person 'in shot' may not be talking - it's possible that 'celebrities' off camera are talking, or that the production crew are talking to them, giving instructions, and so on.

[johnflemming]

You watch it and see. I have watched it for hours and it is def randon as it is for 5 seconds of what is DEF silence. Please watch I'm a Celebrity LIVE on ITV2 later.

[crisgal]

i was watching celeb t'other night and someone off camera was singing to themselves. the people on camera weren't speaking - they were just preparing food or something. Could that be it?

 

[Mattk]

let it go man !

as much as you hate to admit it i am right !

[johnflemming]

Well you watch it and see. I think I read somewhere it is a legal reauirement to block sound at random to prove something. I haven't let the bone go yet!!! Does anyone support me on this. Watch it and see.

[flirty41]

Yep, there's definitely a caption up saying 'We apologise for loss of sound or pictures.  This is due to legal reasons'  and whilst the caption was up all I could hear was Joe talking, but no pictures!  No idea what it's all about though!

[banjo]

I know what you mean john - it always used to happen on big brother regardless of whether anyone was talking, and it would often be for quite long periods of time.  They did explain it as being for 'legal reasons', but I have no idea what they actually are.  I would like to know though!

[johnflemming]

That is my point! Thanks. Anyone know?

[stoo_pid]

Sorry but Mattk, billywhizz, andy hughes & crisgal are all correct.  It's exactly the same thing with Big Brother.  I watched an interview with some channel 4 bod & he gave all the same reasons that you've been given here.  They're also here in writing:
http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/T/thinktv/faq.html#25

Of course, they might be lying to us but
a) I cannot think of one single reason why they would bother and
b) unless you get hold of an insider that's gonna blow the gaff on the whole thing, you're not likely to hear anything different anywhere else.

If you're still not convinced, drop a line to ITV & see what they tell you:
http://www.itv.com/page.asp?partid=1215