Eyeing up the risk of reality TV
9 June 2008
Twelve incongruously mismatched individuals, a lavishly decorated house full of surveillance cameras and a Geordie voiceover can only mean one thing: Big Brother 9 has hit our screens.
For the next three months we are likely to be bombarded with furious outbursts, excessive flirtations and foolish behaviour of Britain’s next generation of Z-list celebrities. But aside from the tantrums and tiaras, what protection is put in place in case something goes wrong?
According to Barry Pickard, Executive Director for the Entertainment Division for Lloyd’s broker Heath Lambert, it is the production company who must make sure that the cover they have in place is adequate.
“Ultimately a production company would need to ensure they have cover from the time they have lined their contestants up to participate right up until the final curtain falls,” Pickard said. “It is a matter of taking out the right insurances to protect the production for the non-appearance of the contestants concerned as a result of sickness or injury, which will prevent them from taking part in the programme and the costs of replacing them with someone else.
“In addition, a production company will normally get a doctor to check over the contestants to make sure they are fit and able to take part if any physical/sporting tasks are to be completed.”
With regard to the more physical tasks set by Big Brother, personal accident cover would also be required.
“In the event that a contestant gets hurt while taking part in the programme and they put in a claim, they could expect to receive a weekly benefit for minor scrapes, or a lump sum for a serious accident.
“Lump sums tend to be capped and this is usually calculated as a percentage of the contestant’s ‘normal’ expected income,” Pickard added.
“When we move on to look at the personal accident aspects, the premiums charged are based on the degree of risk associated with the activity itself as well as the contestant themselves, their age or weight and their level of fitness for example.
“It is also possible to get contestant-walk cover – which is where a contestant walks off a programme and will not participate – although this is rarely purchased and as a result is very expensive.”
Jonathan Upshall, Broking Director for Aon, said: “From a legal liability perspective, the production company will have to demonstrate that they have properly identified everything known about an individual to mitigate any potential risks.
“Working closely with members of the public can be very unpredictable as television companies are used to working with bona fide actors who are aware of what is expected of them on set. As a result of this, the companies involved will have to make sure that they have covered all perspectives from a risk management point of view.”
Last updated on 09 Jun 2008
