It’s Not Just Trash TV — Here’s What Keeps Viewers Coming Back to Reality Shows
Editor’s Note: This story is from CableTV.com.
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder – and the same seems to apply to television. One viewer’s trash TV is another’s favorite guilty pleasure. In fact, according to a recent survey of self-proclaimed reality TV fans, 75% still describe the genre as “guilty entertainment.”
Love it or hate it, the numbers are hard to ignore. Hundreds of millions of viewers stream hits like “Blind Love,” while popular shows like “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” still draw about 3 to 5 million viewers per episode.
And fans open up in all kinds of ways. Almost half of respondents (47%) say they watch TV alone, while 32% make it a viewing event. Another 18% say reality shows are their entertainment on the treadmill or doing chores around the house.
No matter how you watch it, one thing is clear: With a steady stream of new shows, prime time slots and breakout personalities, reality TV isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
You’ll subscribe to the drama: How reality TV is driving streaming subscriptions
Bottom line: The highly anticipated new season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” premiered on Hulu on March 12 and promises another round of #MomTok drama.
We wanted to know how much drama is pulling in viewers – and the results suggest it’s a major driver of new subscriptions.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) say they already subscribe or plan to subscribe to Hulu specifically to watch the new season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” as well as the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” featuring #MomTok queen Taylor Frankie Paul.
This is good news for streaming platforms that rely on buzzy reality franchises – viewers are clearly willing to sign up if it means getting the latest tea.
Even among those who don’t plan to sing along to “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” the moral is catching on. Six in 10 respondents said they subscribed to a new streaming service to watch a favorite reality game, and 82% said they usually keep their subscription even after the season ends.
It turns out that viewers aren’t just watching drama; they also choose favorites.
Half of the respondents said they enjoy watching “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” and when asked to rank the cast, Jen took the top spot, followed by Taylor Frankie Paul and Layla. Some of the show’s fan favorites include Whitney, Mikayla, Miranda, Mayci, Jessi, and Demi.
Favorite “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” characters, counted
- Jen
- Taylor
- Layla
- Whitney
- Mikayla
- Miranda
- Maybe
- Jesi
- Demi
Some of that popularity has already extended beyond the Hulu series. Many of the cast have appeared in other entertainment projects, including Jen and Whitney’s appearance on “Dancing With the Stars” last season, Whitney’s run on Broadway, and Taylor Frankie Paul’s upcoming lead on the next season of “The Bachelorette,” which airs March 22, 2026.
With the #MomTok favorite now entering one of the most recognizable franchises on TV, we also wanted to see how audiences watch “The Bachelorette” and what keeps them tuning in season after season.
Roses, reality, and proportions
Now entering its 30th season, “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” franchises are longtime fan favorites. Although Taylor Frankie Paul’s appearance is attracting new viewers (15%), many fans say they will be watching regardless—one in four respondents plan to watch the next season regardless of who hands out the roses.
Pro tip: For those who have been living under a rock, you can stream “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and the Bachelor universe on Hulu.
The franchise’s staying power is evident in the longevity of its audience. A regular fan says they have been invested in the series for at least five years, suggesting that viewers keep coming back season after season to see how the love stories are made.
Social media is also playing a growing role in attracting people. 30 percent of respondents said they were influenced to watch a show after seeing clips online, a sign that regular times and trending content are creating viewing habits.
Meanwhile, 26% say they simply enjoy dating reality shows in general, making “The Bachelorette” just the latest in the romantic reality TV rotation.
After the last rose: The truth is that fans love it so much
So what happens after the last rose is accepted? Our survey looked beyond one franchise to see which reality shows viewers keep coming back to. About 30% of viewers say they watch reality TV for tea, while 29% say they watch because they enjoy the characters and stories.
And while dating shows dominate much of the reality TV conversation, the long-running competition series “Survivor,” now in its 50th season, actually ranks as the overall viewership favorite, with the Bachelor franchise close behind.
Top 5 favorite TV shows and franchises in 2026
- “Survivor”
- “The Bachelor”
- “The Bachelorette”
- Love Island
- Real Housewives
How the viewers watch the drama
So how do fans watch all this reality TV content? Streaming remains the leading form of binge-watching, with 59% of respondents saying they listen to streaming platforms.
However, traditional TV is not out of the picture yet. About 29% of viewers say they still watch episodes live, suggesting that reality TV continues to be one of the few genres that keeps audiences watching scheduled shows.
How Americans watch reality TV
- 59%: to stream full episodes on a live streaming site
- 29%: watch them live on TV when they play
- 12%: watch recorded episodes or social media clips
We all find other ways – from recorded episodes to social media that allow fans to stay informed without having to watch every minute. In the era of viral videos and primetime moments, sometimes the drama goes as far on TikTok or Instagram as it does on screen.
Whether it’s making tea, stalking a favorite cast member, or subscribing to a new streaming service to keep up with the drama, one thing is clear: reality TV continues to capture viewers’ attention.
From long-running franchises like “The Bachelor” and “Survivor” to newcomers like “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” audiences are still eager to watch the drama unfold, however and wherever it airs next.
