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Objectives. The aim is to identify reality television audience and its preferences and also, to analyze its context, structuring and presentation styles; to analyze its impact on the audience. Material and methods. The study employed content analysis and survey. For the content analysis, Tamil TV reality shows namely Enga Veetu Mappillai, Villa to Village, Colors Super Kids, Super Singer and Dance Jodi Dance were analyzed. People’s habitual nature, usage of words/conversation with co-hosts or contestants, costumes worn, commercial elements and incorporation of dramatic elements etc. were analyzed. An analysis of textual data collected from newspapers and internet looked at the various perspectives regarding reality television, and its effect on Tamil culture and traditions. The survey collected feedback on various aspects related to reality shows. Results. In order to create hype, Tamil television reality shows unrealistic/unacceptable showcase concepts, which are leading to a cultural imbalance among the audience. These programs are designed with prewritten scripts, making the program’s outcome more dramatic, and enticing viewers to consume more. However, some shows namely Super Singer and Colors Super Kids provide a platform to display talents. Conclusions. In order to preserve the cultural values, producers should employ appropriate themes/concepts, styles of presentation, dialogues, costumes, etc. and not be driven by commercial interests and viewership ratings.