Frances Berwick, chair of unscripted programming at Bravo and Peacock, says reality television has enjoyed an exceptional 2026, with shows including The Traitors, Summer House and Love Island USA achieving record ratings and unusually extensive media attention. She argues that the genre is gaining greater cultural respect because viewers increasingly feel compelled to watch quickly and join shared conversations, even when they are not watching live together.

Peacock and Bravo have sought to sustain this momentum by turning major reality series into successive “tentpole” events, including launching the latest Married at First Sight season after Love Island USA ended. Berwick cited Love Island watch parties, cinema screenings and an anecdote about viewers switching from an NBA finals game to a Summer House reunion as evidence of demand for communal viewing; Love Island USA reportedly ranked first or second among all streaming content during its six-week run.