Patricio Hernández at Latina and Ignacio Corvalán at Cooking: The rise of multiple platforms breathed new life into the reality show format

Channel 13 in Chile has made a successful comeback to the reality TV scene. After launching Tierra Brava, they’re currently airing Ganar o Servir, and soon viewers can expect Palabra de Honor. All three programs are a collaborative effort between CookingMedia and Latina Televisión del Perú, produced in their newly established production hub in Lurín, Peru.

At the helm of content management for these projects are Patricio Hernández, CEO of Latina, and Ignacio Corvalán, Executive Producer of CookingMedia.  Hernández and Corvalán bring a wealth of experience to the table, having collaborated on format creation, development, and production for the past fifteen years. Their combined expertise has been instrumental in shaping the evolution of the entertainment format genre for over two decades.

“Reality TV is thriving in the current climate, driven in large part by its multiplatform nature, which unlocks diverse revenue streams. A single reality show can encompass a daily primetime slot on open television, a 24/7 channel feed, ongoing story coverage in entertainment programs, and a massive social media following that fuels content consumption. This multiplatform presence has significantly boosted the value of the reality show format,” noted Hernández and Corvalán.

MULTIPLATFORM SYNERGY
The multiplatform nature adopted by reality shows has significantly impacted both consumption and revenue. This is because they can now leverage platforms where open television traditionally lacks a competitive edge, allowing for monetization through new channels.

“Reality TV creates a powerful synergy. Open television serves as a launchpad, establishing the show’s brand and promoting it to a broad audience. This in turn drives viewers to social media or the 24/7 platform. A virtuous circle occurs,” explained Hernández.

Notably, the digital presence of shows like Tierra Brava and Ganar o Servir has resulted in a doubling of their viewership compared to what they achieved solely on open television. This surge in digital consumption propelled Tierra Brava to become one of the top three most-watched reality shows in Channel 13’s twenty-year history for the genre.

“Consider a reality show that years ago garnered 25 rating points on open television. Today, those numbers have dipped to 12 or 13 points. However, a single primetime episode on Channel 13 now attracts between 700,000 and 800,000 viewers per minute, while platforms like ours can reach an additional 1.5 million. When you combine these figures, the overall viewership remains comparable to those earlier 25 points. This exemplifies the immense power of reality TV,” concluded Hernández. Before joining Latina, he held the position of manager of Programming and Creative Processes at Channel 13 for two separate terms. He then went on to become the founding CEO and manager of Programming and Content at Megamedia for eight years. Additionally, he served as the director and founder of CNN Chile.

FORMATS FOR THE MASS PUBLIC
Hernández and Corvalán’s reality shows have evolved to become more intricate. Today, they are distinguished by their unique blend of drama, strategic casting, multiplatform production, and adaptable story outlines (bibles) that cater to client preferences.

Over the years, Hernández and Corvalán’s reality shows have become increasingly layered narratives. Early formats focused on interpersonal conflicts like fights and romances between secluded contestants. Shows like La Granja then introduced a more developed setting for the action to unfold.  Later iterations incorporated strategic casting elements, such as reuniting former partners, and explored ethical dilemmas that sparked debate both within the show and with viewers (e.g., “Would you reunite with your ex for love or revenge?”). Most recently, they’ve embraced dramatic elements, creating practically unscripted real-life telenovelas.

“Patricio and I have a well-honed creative process. We don’t focus on niche formats, but rather on creating content that resonates with a broad audience. We prioritize inclusivity by ensuring diversity in casting from the very beginning. Our goal is for every episode to deliver the essential elements of reality TV: conflict, romance, and humor. The balance between these elements may shift organically as the stories and participants develop, but all three are ever-present,” explained Corvalán.

The year 2000 marked the genesis of Chilean expertise in reality shows. A team of Argentinian professionals from Promofilm arrived in Santiago to train their Chilean counterparts in this burgeoning genre. These newly trained professionals formed the core of Channel 13’s creative team, responsible for producing a string of roughly ten successful reality shows. Initially focusing on adaptations of existing formats, they later transitioned to developing their own original concepts with various iterations, achieving significant acclaim. Notable examples include La Granja, Granjeras, Granja VIP, Mundos Opuestos (both seasons), La Casa, and Año 0.

Hernández and Corvalán are also the creators behind 40 or 20 format shows forChannel 13, including Pareja Perfecta, Tierra Brava, Ganar o Servir, and Palabra de Honor.  Previously, during their time at Mega, they developed successful cohabitation reality shows like Volverías con Tu Ex, Doble Tentación, Amor a Prueba, and Resistiré (co-produced with MTV).

Producers from Germany, France, and the US are in Peru to learn the secrets behind CookingMedia and Latina Television’s successful reality show production process.

PRODUCTION SCHEME
Hernández and Corvalán’s reality shows have gained a new layer of narrative complexity through the innovative production scheme and multiplatform recording plan. This approach involves crafting a script that seamlessly integrates across all the show’s distribution platforms.

“The script has evolved beyond a linear format. It encompasses the linear narrative alongside everything that unfolds within the digital ecosystem. This two-way interaction allows the audience to actively participate in shaping the reality show’s narrative. In my opinion, this is the key to why multiplatform strategies have revitalized and expanded the potential of this genre, which originated in the analog era. It’s fundamentally transformed storytelling and production workflows, moving beyond the constraints of a primetime linear program confined to a one-and-a-half-hour slot,” said Hernández.

For Channel 13’s reality shows, a dedicated digital team creates exclusive content featuring the location and participants specifically for social media audiences.  Corvalán emphasizes that the entire production operates seamlessly to deliver a multi-platform experience. Crucially, this doesn’t involve spoilers – the content on each platform complements the others.

CASTING
“Strategic casting is a key ingredient that keeps the format fresh and engaging for 135 episodes,” said Corvalán.

The inclusion of both international celebrities and compelling everyday people fuels the show’s explosive popularity beyond borders.  While established stars draw viewers in, the program also strategically positions non-celebrities alongside them, giving them a chance to take center stage.  For contestants who aren’t yet household names, the production team cleverly leverages storytelling and highlights conflicts a few months before the show airs, fostering a sense of closeness and identification with the audience by the time the program premieres.

“We borrow from the marketing strategies of telenovelas and apply them to the reality TV genre. This approach has thoroughly permeated our reality shows, influencing everything from character development and narrative arcs to conflict creation and, of course, the marketing strategy,”  Hernández and Corvalán concluded.