DUBAI, 11 April 2006 — Dubai is all set to have a reality show of its own. Entertainment television channel, Infinity TV, announced on Sunday the launch of a new reality television show in the Middle East called “Street Smarts”, at a press conference held at Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai. The action-packed show will feature 16 young male and female Arab participants from the region, who will contend for a prize money of $100,000.
The contestants of the show will be split into two mixed teams and will be judged on their expertise and skills through 16 intense and intellectually stimulating assignments given to them by the show’s host. The person successfully completing all assignments at the end of the show will walk away with the prize money. The eight male and eight female contestants will live together in Dubai throughout the duration of the show, with separate accommodation facilities for men and women.
Speaking at the press conference, Hashem A. Quaissieh, vice chairman, Infinity TV, said: “Around the world, the popularity of reality TV shows has sky-rocketed in the recent years, with several television channels airing a variety of reality shows that captivate audiences across all age groups. Audiences in the Middle East too have been keen followers of these shows, with many of them hoping they could be a part of such shows themselves. With the launch of ‘Street Smarts’, we are turning this dream into reality.”
The team that wins the weekly assignment will be rewarded with AED10,000 in cash to be split between them. “Street Smarts” will be hosted by Infinity TV’s anchor Taleen Kirresh.
Every week, the losing team will vote out one team member. The viewing audience will also participate via SMS, voting off the participant from the losing team, and the audience’s vote will be final.