This paper examines, both theoretically and empirically, the effect of social networks and belonging to minority groups (or race) on the probability of winning in reality television shows. We develop a theoretical model that studies viewer behavior by presenting a framework of competition between two contestants from two different groups. The results are examined empirically using unique contestant data from the highly popular reality show A Star Is Born, the Israeli counterpart of American Idol. Our main finding is that social networks and belonging to minority groups play key roles in the contestant's victory, but their effects are nonlinear: the social network effect is U-shaped, whereas that of belonging to a minority group follows an inverted U shape. Beyond the world of reality TV, this paper sheds light on the general behavior of social networks as well.
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机译：本文在理论和经验上都研究了社交网络和属于少数群体（或种族）的电视对在真人秀中获胜的可能性的影响。我们提出了一种理论模型，通过介绍来自两个不同群体的两名参赛者之间的竞争框架来研究观众的行为。使用来自广受欢迎的真人秀A Star Is Born（美国偶像的以色列同行）的独特竞争者数据，对结果进行了经验检验。我们的主要发现是，社交网络和属于少数群体的人群在参赛者的胜利中起着关键作用，但它们的影响是非线性的：社交网络的影响呈U形，而属于少数群体的社交网络则呈倒U形。除了真人秀电视世界之外，本文还阐明了社交网络的一般行为。
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