Does reality TV's extreme stunts demand extreme insurance protection?

The crazy tricks that reality TV shows would do in order to get some viewers are incredible.

Extreme stunts do demand extreme insurance protection. Kenneth Wefer, owner of LMC Group, an engineering company that helps insurers evaluates stunts, claims, "One death. One dismemberment. That's all it could take to end reality television. That's why it's crucial that insurers are involved... Without them, reality TV might not exist.'

An insurance underwriter's nightmare is a reality television producer's dream.

Do you think that eating bugs, being dragged several feet on the floor, swimming with sharks, and jumping off a 20-story building can be done without proper insurance? That's right, it's impossible to do any of those tricks without the proper coverage.

According to many experts and their evaluations, here are the large companies that do cover reality TV shows and their contestants:

• St. Paul Travelers
  
• Fireman's Fund Insurance Cos. of Novato, California

• American International Group of New York

Reality TV shows will be extremely dangerous without insurance. It is important to figure out exactly how the insurance system works in different reality shows. Large insurance companies like the ones listed above cover reality TV shows and particularly their contestants.

However because it is so difficult to insure reality TV shows, media analysts predicted the genre would fail. Analysts say that thanks to insurance companies working behind the scenes to remove risks, there were a few incidents that occurred.

Candysse Miller, Insurance Information Network of California, IINC's executive director claims, "The more reality shows rely on risky stunts to build ratings, the more they rely on insurance not only to protect them financially, but also to provide safety guidelines. Insurance protects not only the producers, but also the participants by requiring that the shows take extreme safety measures before a policy is written.'

When thinking about switching the channel to Fear Factor, take another look at those stunts. No matter what happens, reality TV shows are protected by purchasing the proper insurance coverage.