ATV investigates "The Business with Love" after sexism allegations
ATV is putting individual episodes of the reality TV format "The Business with Love" under scrutiny. The trigger was criticism of the show that emerged over the weekend. After "Falter" editor-in-chief Florian Klenk expressed his displeasure on social media about the "misogynistic trash" and the "trivialization of rape culture, exploitation, and human trafficking," media minister Andreas Babler (SPÖ) and the women's chairpersons of SPÖ, ÖVP, Neos, and the Greens also voiced criticism.
Ratings Hit on ATV: In Search of the "Dream Woman" in Kazakhstan and Thailand
"The Business with Love" is not a new ATV format. The show has been delivering good ratings for many years. Last year, an episode with approximately 172,000 viewers was one of the most-watched programs on the private broadcaster. This year, the format entered its 11th season. Several men travel to Kazakhstan and Thailand, where they look for their "dream women." For example, it shows a visibly heavily intoxicated woman from Thailand being carried away over a man's shoulder after he previously talked about his sexual behavior and made it clear how important it is to him that a woman constantly wants sex.
"Sexist, Racist, and Misogynistic": Vice Chancellor Babler Announces Talks with ATV Management
After Klenk expressed sharp criticism of the show, the women's chairpersons of SPÖ, ÖVP, Neos, and the Greens also issued a joint statement about the show, which they described as "sexist, racist, and misogynistic." "Women are treated like commodities, violence, assaults, humiliations, and claims of ownership are normalized," said Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ), Juliane Bogner-Strauß (ÖVP), Henrike Brandstötter (Neos), and Meri Disoski (Greens). Media minister Babler stated on social media that the open display of sexual exploitation of women "has no place in the media on TV or anywhere else in our society." He announced that he would approach the management of ATV and address the content of the show, the Vice Chancellor announced.
"Quality Control Failed": ATV Takes Episode Offline, Reviews Further Episodes
ATV "strictly rejects sexist and racist content as well as violence and misogyny," the broadcaster responded to the criticism. "Since quality control failed in the relevant episode, appropriate measures were immediately taken and the episode, as well as all clips from it, were taken offline," it said. A "further quality control" is now to be carried out - also with regard to the other episodes of the season that have not yet been broadcast. If necessary, they should be revised before airing, it was said. Therefore, "The Business with Love" will pause on Wednesday (March 26).
When asked how episode 5 stands out and whether the entire show is now being reconsidered, ATV stated in response to an APA inquiry: "The aforementioned episode 5 is different in that its narrative unfortunately does not adequately reflect the core of the format from our perspective."
"The Business with Love" Turns "Antiheroes into Heroes"
Last year, Thomas Gruber, CEO of ProSiebenSat.1Puls4, explained to the APA when asked about the sometimes shallow reality TV formats of the broadcaster: "We turn antiheroes and underdogs into the heroes of our formats." Of course, a certain line must not be crossed, it is a balancing act, he said. However: "In recent years, we have found a very feasible path. You have to view the formats with a certain wink."
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.