"The Aviators" Takes Reality Television into New Heights In Season 5
After Reaching 50 Million Viewers Worldwide and Achieving Landmark Ratings Last Season, Executive Producer Anthony Nalli Looks Towards Season 5 and Beyond.
- (1888PressRelease) January 30, 2014 - Oshkosh, WI - The Aviators television docuseries is closing out season 4 with an all-time high. Since the reality show made its debut in the fall of 2010, it has aired in the United States nearly 40,000 times to an average audience of 10 million PBS viewers each week. Today, the show airs in more than 100 countries, reaching no less than 50 million viewers worldwide. The program has just started production on Season 5, and attributes its longstanding success to the variety of passion-filled aviation programming it has been able to deliver to fiercely loyal audiences all around the world.
Among the successes The Aviators achieved last season was its increased popularity on iTunes. When season three was first released in 2012, it peaked at number three as the most-downloaded non-fiction TV series. Within hours of episode 4.01 being released, the series rocketed to number two, second only to "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." With such a rapid surge in viewer interest, the previous three seasons were now among the top 25 most downloaded seasons, giving each season of "The Aviators" its own place in this prestigious ranking. The show remained on iTunes most-downloaded list for an incredible five months, exceeding the duration of an entire season.
The Aviators fits into the docuseries category, but also fits the format of a reality show since it follows real pilots through everyday scenarios. "From students at Embry-Riddle, to air show pilots, to the makers of the Goodyear Blimp, we track the day-to-day reality faced by thousands of aviation-minded people across North America," explains Anthony Nalli, creator and executive producer of the series. "We break the mold from the typical 'reality show' format since our goal to inspire current or future pilots to achieve their goals and realize that their aviation dreams can become a reality. Through The Aviators, you learn something, and you become inspired through the amazing accomplishments of others within the aviation community."
In addition to increases in television viewership numbers and internet downloads, The Aviators' success is also reflected in the social media world, where the program's Facebook page 'Likes' has climbed from 25,000 to over 100,000 - no less than a 400% increase since season 4 premiered in September.
Indeed, The Aviators plays a central role in creating and maintaining interest among audiences in the aviation community. Throughout the 2000s, the number of licensed pilots in the U.S. was generally on the decline, with numbers of student pilots hovering in the mid 80,000s and going as low as 72,000 at the end of 2009. However, 2010 - the year The Aviators premiered - saw a sharp 65% increase to nearly 120,000 pilots - a boost of almost 50,000.
As Season 4 closes on such a high note, Nalli is setting up the program to achieve new highs for Season 5. With filming already underway, and with ongoing sponsorships from globally respected companies including GEICO, American Airlines, Brietling, Sennheiser and others, an early episode will pay homage to the pair who started it all: Orville and Wilbur Wright. "We'll be visiting Dayton, Ohio to feature the brothers and their aircraft, as well as the significance of the city in aviation history," he says.
The exact September 2014 launch date for episode 5.01 is yet to be announced but fans can check their local listings for air times, as well as follow the show's Facebook and Twitter Page to receive updates on production highlights.
About The Aviators:
The Aviators is an award-winning weekly TV series featuring interesting people, the latest aircraft, the coolest technology and the best fly-in destinations. It's action, intensity, and adrenalin mixed with education, entertainment, and beauty. The Aviators is about all things aviation - for everyone who has ever gazed skyward.
Fans can follow The Aviators' Facebook and Twitter Page as cast members make their way across the continent, and catch up on previous seasons on high-definition Blu-ray, as well as on iTunes, Hulu, and Amazon Instant Video.
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