Days from the launch of Big Brother 9, it has emerged that reality TV budgets have become the latest victim of economic turbulence in the United States.
Amid talk of a downturn, and with advertising revenue on the slide, many shows are under pressure to shoot to tighter deadlines and less expensively than before.
Mark Cronin, producer of VH1 hit shows 'Rock of Love' and 'I Love New York' told the Hollywood Reporter: "Every year there's more and more budgetary pressure.
"Every network is having its budgetary problems, and that's being pushed back toward all content. So there's a constant pressure to produce more for less."
Comedies and dramas have already suffered budget cuts due to general ratings drops, but reality TV had been considered protected from the trend due the cheap cost base from which it operates.
However, many shows are now using less well known presenters, shooting on cheap studio sets rather than on location, and offering only moderate prize-money.
