Introduction
Shark Tank is a reality television show, which entails entrepreneurship and investment. The program features some of the richest people in the world in matters regarding investment and businesses funding. It was first aired on August 9, 2009, on ABC. During the show, entrepreneurs are in some form of a contest to win the favor of the investors, who are referred to as ‘sharks’ in the show. After presenting their business ideas and products, the entrepreneurs hope that the investors would take an interest in the presentation and offer to invest in their companies. The program has been a great success since the day of its premier, having won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program for a record three times.
The television show was created and produced by Mark Burnett. It is based on Dragon’s Den, the international method, which was first experienced in Japan in the year 2001.
Purpose
In essence, the creator of this show wanted to give a chance to viewers to see how business tycoons invest and the factors they consider before putting their money in a particular company. The cash that they invest during the show is their money, even though they are paid for their participation in the show. Apart from that, the producer wanted to give a chance to entrepreneurs to interact with the sharks and probably get help to start or expand their business.
Audience
The show targets the American population, though it would make more sense to people who have interests in the business. The ideas that the tycoons give to the entrepreneurs, as well as the criticism that they issue, are helpful to everybody, not only to those on the show. However, the viewers should note that whatever happens on the show is only part of the whole process of making a deal with the entrepreneurs. Some of the other processes include vetting of the business, including an audit of its financial accounts.
Context
Fundamentally, several factors influenced the show. In other words, it was launched following a series of other similar shows that were aired in other countries like The United Kingdom and Japan. Shark Tank was, therefore, launched as the American equivalent. However, this was more successful than the previous ones in the other countries.
Voice
During the show, people experience mixed reactions. Emotions rise when the discussions become heated. For instance, some sharks usually intimidate the entrepreneurs by using harsh words and denying them a chance to explain certain aspects regarding their businesses. Sharks like O’Realy were particularly brutal when addressing the participants, and some of the contestants may take this personal and get emotional. However, the viewer’s get to witness only about 10% of what happens in the negotiations between the Sharks and the participants at the show. Most of the discussions are edited. Despite the presence of the harsh sharks on the show, there are others who take a softer approach and address the entrepreneurs in a more rational manner. Some of the notable sharks that take a softer stance include Barbara Cocoran and Mark Cuban. The sharks can even offer personal advice to the entrepreneurs.
Strategies
The show is one of the most popular reality television series in the United States. The program is appreciated by almost all groups of viewers. When it was first aired on ABC, critics of films and television shows stated that it was the best reality show in that summer. Some of the more reserved critics admitted that though the setting was a bit dull, the program was captivating as it offered different dynamics that were unexpected. It is also important to note that the show was premiering during a difficult period for the country. The country, as well as other parts of the world, was experiencing the financial crisis that saw several financial institutions close down or go into receivership. Therefore, the people were enthusiastic about the new program. By the year 2012, the show was the most watched program on Friday nights among viewers who are between 18 to 50 years.
The Sharks in the Tank are people who have business empires and leaders in their respective industries. They control millions of dollars in revenues and profits. To some of the fans, the Sharks appear as heroes because of the immense wealth they possess and the publicity they receive in the show. The fans wish that they could meet them in person. However, for others, the Sharks are a representation of the real-life business moguls. They are perceived to be unscrupulous, greedy for money, and often engage in underhand methods to get an advantage in deals. To this group of fans, the Sharks on the show are not different from other business people despite the fact that they appear on reality television. For one to ascertain whether the sharks follow up on the deals they get during the show, one has to know what happens after the entrepreneurs leave the program. Primarily, ABC has a show that follow-up on the events of the show. The show is called ‘Beyond the Tank’ and is in its second season.
Genre
Shark Tank is an educative show as people who are attentive when watching the show can learn a lot about business and entrepreneurship. For instance, during the show, one usually observes the sharks writing down figures on notebooks. Notably, what they write are financial numbers for a company and perform calculations before coming to a conclusion. Some of the calculations they do include the total value as well as the estimated sales for a particular period. In essence, these are the guiding factors that enable the sharks to make decisions when it comes to investment. Therefore, when one watches the show attentively, a person can understand these issues, and they may apply them in business.
Conclusion
Shark Tank is an American reality television show. It was created by Mark Burnett and its first episode aired in the year 2009. The show has been one of the most popular reality programs and has become one of most watched show on Friday nights. The show features some of the wealthiest people in America who offer entrepreneurs a chance to present their business ideas and earn investment from the sharks if they are successful. The show offers viewers great learning experiences because one may learn how to evaluate a company as well as get information about ways of making his or her business earn revenue. Apart from that, one may learn what investors look for before they invest in a particular enterprise. Hence, this program is essential in the realization of the American Dream. In fact, the show is built around this ideal.
Work Cited
Mark Burnet. "Shark Tank." ABC, 2009.
