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Media
Equity hit out at X-Factor
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 20 August 2009
Actors union Equity has called on the producers of talent shows like ‘X-Factor’ to pay contestants who make it through to the latter part of a competition, arguing that by not doing so TV firms are filling their prime time schedules with performers who basically perform for free.
The union said in a statement: “These programmes may be very popular with the public but are based on exploitation and humiliation of vulnerable people, which cannot be acceptable. The public’s demand for high-quality entertainment should be met by professional drama and light entertainment which has been replaced by this cheap exploitation”.
I’m not sure that’s completely fair. Surely ‘X-Factor’ et al are well-funded sophisticated exploitation. Though I take the point about them not paying the talent.
Responding to the accusations, a spokeswoman for ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and ‘X-Factor’ producers Talkback Thames said: “Have you seen the people who perform on our show – I mean, would you pay them a penny? And once we’ve paid to have Amanda made up, there just isn’t any money left in the kitty”.
Well, I’m sure that’s what they meant. This is what they actually said: “Contestants choose to enter to compete for a substantial prize – a cash prize of £100,000 and a performance on the Royal Variety Performance for Britain’s Got Talent and a recording contract worth £1 million on ‘X Factor’. The shows also give ordinary people an opportunity to showcase their talents and potentially transform their lives”.
