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Artwork for The Reality Machine

The Reality Machine

RNZ
Reality Television
New Zealand Reality Television
Celebrity Treasure Island
Reality Television Participant Welfare
Reality Television Production
The X Factor NZ
Flatmates
Treasure Island
The $20 Challenge
Frankenbites
Duty Of Care
New Zealand Television Advertising Revenue
Going Straight
Reality TV Editing Ethics
New Zealand On Air
NZ On Air
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Reality Television Editing
Pyrotechnic Safety

After 20+ years in the TV industry, including inside some of the country’s biggest reality shows, Dylan Reeve is pulling back the curtain on what makes Reality TV what it is.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes9Foundeda month ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Reality Machine

Latest Episodes

As we reach the end of our journey, we confront the severe economic storm that has been threatening the future of local television. With traditional broadcast advertising collapsing and global tech platforms taking the lion's share of revenue, broadc... more

We look at how the industry has been forced to grow up, tracing the shift from wild-west filming conditions to modern psychological screening and strict duty of care obligations. As online trolling and instant fame grew more intense, producers were f... more

It’s time! We’re pulling back the curtain to reveal how the reality TV machine actually works behind closed doors. We look at the art of story production and the (dark?) art post-production, where hundreds of hours of raw footage get condensed into 2... more

We’re heading back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, when shows like Flatmates, Treasure Island, and The $20 Challenge first hit Kiwi screens. It was the wild west of local television, where ambitious producers and crew were basically inventing the ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Rachel Antony
CEO of Greenstone Pictures, known for observational reality shows
Greenstone Pictures
Episode: The End Of Reality?!
Duncan Reeve
The Spinoff contributor discussing the New Zealand television industry
The Spinoff
Episode: The End Of Reality?!
Greg Heathcote
Television producer at Touchdown TV
Touchdown TV
Episode: The End Of Reality?!
Aaron Doble
TVNZ commissioner and veteran reality television producer
TVNZ
Episode: The End Of Reality?!
Amy Mills
Head of funding at New Zealand On Air
New Zealand On Air
Episode: The End Of Reality?!
Vicki Keough
Former network commissioner and executive producer at Perpetual Entertainment
Perpetual Entertainment
Episode: The End Of Reality?!
Andrew Shusterman
Managing director of South Pacific Pictures and executive producer of The Traitors NZ and Australia
South Pacific Pictures
Episode: The End Of Reality?!
Adam Stevenson
Reality TV creator working on social-first formats
Episode: The End Of Reality?!
John Kroll
Veteran US reality producer based in Wellington
Tall Poppy Films
Episode: The End Of Reality?!

Hosts

Dylan Reeve
Television industry veteran, producer and writer with more than 20 years of experience
Phil Vine
RNZ senior producer and reality TV commentator

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 7 ratings
  • Beautifully made podcast

    I highly recommend this podcast. It’s a fascinating topic and so well made

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NM in NZ
    New Zealand25 days ago
  • Fantastic.

    I don’t even watch reality TV… And this was absolutely brilliant. Insightful, funny… Clever! Very entertaining.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ella UK
    New Zealanda month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The subject is considered fascinating and insightful, even by a listener who does not watch reality TV.
Listeners praise the tone as funny, clever and entertaining.
Listeners describe the production as polished and well made.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#8
New Zealand/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#226
Saudi Arabia/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Duty of Care & Kindness
Q: How do they do that though? How do they manage to keep people safe?
Dylan Reeve says the production typically keeps a crew base and medical help within reach, but safety depends on contestants being able to send an SOS.
Duty of Care & Kindness
Q: What sort of questions were they asking you?
The psychological screening explored how the contestant might handle conflict, emotional confrontation and isolation during the game.
Mediawatch: Running the rule over reality TV
Q: How is it done?
Reeve explains that production involves filming many hours across multiple cameras, then selecting material for a shorter program. Producers generally shape stories from what was captured rather than asking participants to fake events, since staged performances tend to look unconvincing.
Mediawatch: Running the rule over reality TV
Q: How do you define reality TV?
Dylan Reeve says the industry generally calls it unscripted television and divides it into genres. Viewers decide what feels like reality, while most unscripted shows are reality-adjacent.
The End Of Reality?!
Q: What does the future for reality, or television in general, look like in New Zealand?
The discussion points to social-first formats, online experimentation, international development and locally devised shows, while noting that funding and risk aversion remain obstacles.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Reality Machine

What is The Reality Machine about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A behind-the-scenes account of New Zealand reality television, led by industry veteran Dylan Reeve and co-host Phil Vine. Conversations with producers, editors, commissioners, former contestants and media commentators explain how unscripted programmes are made, from filming and story editing to format development, funding and broadcast decisions. The discussions also examine participant welfare, consent, safety and the ethical choices that shape what audiences see, often drawing on the guests' direct experience of well-known local productions.

The perspective is both critical and invested in the genre: it considers reality TV's capacity for compelling storytelling alongside its risks, and looks at the pressures facing New Zealand productio... more

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How many listeners does The Reality Machine get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Reality Machine have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Reality Machine?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Reality Machine:

1. The Poisoned Wife
2. Everyone Has An Ex
3. Motive & Method
4. Zombie Towns: Everything I Missed
5. All In Her Head

How many episodes of The Reality Machine are there?

The Reality Machine launched a month ago and published 9 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Reality Machine?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Reality Machine?

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What guests have appeared on The Reality Machine?

Recent guests on The Reality Machine include:

1. Rachel Antony
2. Duncan Reeve
3. Greg Heathcote
4. Aaron Doble
5. Amy Mills
6. Vicki Keough
7. Andrew Shusterman
8. Adam Stevenson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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