How fantasy leagues also affect reality shows like The Bachelor
Fantasy games, and for that matter gambling, have a substantial effect on the coverage of sports concerning injuries, lineup changes, and other tidbits. It effects more than sports.
The ABC reality competition(?) show The Bachelor, which apparently has a a strong contingent of sports writers, launched not only a fantasy league, but a bracket as well. Here his the explanation of the league from the ABC website:
“The Bachelor Fantasy League allows players to challenge their family, friends and #BachelorNation in predicting the top four women who make it to the hometown dates and the one who will receive the final rose on The Bachelor. Players earn points for correct predictions and each point is an entry into the Grand Prize drawing for a chance to win a trip for two to Los Angeles, hotel and airfare included, two tickets to Disneyland and two tickets to “The Bachelorette: After The Final Rose,” the tell-all special episode after The Bachelorette season finale in summer 2017.”
People fill out The Bachelor Bracket (TBB) the same way college hoops fans do their tournament field. Contestants pick and choose how long participants on the show will last.
Much like traditional fantasy games, “The Bachelor Fantasy League” (TBFL) pits players against one another. The player with the most points wins. ESPN, a subsidiary of Disney much like ABC, set up the game more like a sweepstakes than a form of gambling since players don’t have to pay an entry fee to join.
Disney probably decided to create this league for a couple of reasons. One, they likely felt that the show needed some sort of gimmick to keep people watching (a wild guess). That might go hand in hand with the second reason, adding a second screen experience.
Fantasy leagues places fans in the general managers chair, granting them power to pick the best players for their team. It gives fans something else to occupy their time during a game. TBFL follows a similar pattern. It gives viewers a chance to select contestants they like. Unlike fantasy sports, players don’t have news wires and analysis to help them with their choices (not that they really need it). In theory, this forces viewers of follow the show closely to aid them in their decisions. Or they could pick on a whim, like how most casual fans fill out a bracket.
While not exactly the same, TBB and TBFL provides viewers with another avenue to keep their interest and maintain their excitement for weekly viewing. Much like Twitter feeds during airings or messaging in forums, these games keep fans interested in the program compared to someone who has the show on because they couldn’t find anything else to watch.
The same applies in Fantasy Sports Leagues. Fantasy players sit and watch the games, invested in what specific players performances as it relates to their team and their opponents.
Both fantasy games give viewers a more vested interest in what they are watching. They have something on the line while watching instead of just watching the event. Which begs the question, do these leagues illuminate the lack of entertainment value in these shows and events? Or do they enhance the viewing experience?
