Mt. Everest to Host New Reality Television Program

September 21, 2007

Mt. Everest will be the host of a new made for television reality program based out of Vietnam. The basic plan for the new program is centered around the idea of bringing the first summit of Mt. Everest to Vietnam.

The programming of the new reality show will begin filming in November. The show will first begin taking applications. From those applications, 20 of the fittest applicants will then be selected for the second stage. The second stage begins the Everest “training” process.

Members making it through to the training stage will begin to make attempts on three central peaks in preparation for Everest. The peaks include Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kinabaru in Malaysia, and then Island Peak in Nepal. After the successful completion of the training period, the team will be cut down to four members who will then be given a shot at the world’s highest peak–Everest.

This new program is being done in conjuction with Vietnam Television and The Lasta Company.

We will provide them the best equipment for the climb including clothes, made in Hong Kong, air tanks and hygienic food. The participants will also have life and health insurance,” said Tran Minh Tien, chairman of Lasta.

The remaining four members of the Vietnam Everest team will be joined by a group of six climbing sherpas who have each summited Everest between 4 and 6 times.

We haven’t yet finalised the finances including bonuses for the winners, the total expense may be up to dozens of billions of Viet Nam dong.

Two film makers will be traveling with the group during their climb on Everest. The recorded footage will then be sent down to Everest Basecamp where it will be edited for broadcast, then sent directly to the Vietnam viewing audience.

I am not sure at this point if this “reality” based program will be set-up as a lot of the American Reality shows, where people will be out for themselves no matter what. This sounds like an interesting synopsis, yet, one has to wonder how safe a reality based program, with the “winner” getting a paid money bonus, would be on the slopes of the world’s highest mountain.

Vietnam is also broadcasting that this new series will, in fact, be the first “reality show” ever made on Everest.

This “contest”, as it is being billed, is open to all Vietnamese citizens, both at home and abroad. It will be interesting to see how this takes shape, and I am sure this won’t be the last reality show we hear of on Everest.

For more information on the show, you may visit the source of this article at Viet Nam News as well as EverestVietnam and The Lasta Company for more information on getting involved with the program.

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