Reality Charity TV Show (a free* idea)

There was recently (Sep '04) a segment on Today Tonight (Channel 7, Australia) which highlighted the plight of a very elderly woman who was robbed of her life savings ($8000 that she kept at home). The show set up a charity phone line and within minutes the money was donated.

This show occasionally pays $100,000 to get an exclusive interview from someone news-worthy, often folk who do not deserve the cash. They got this woman's story for free. Her story was easily worth paying $8000 for, but it was the viewers who paid

The idea:

• Weekly 15 or 30 minute TV show (yep, it's about time we had more 15 minute shows, rather than stretching thin ideas over longer time periods)
• Highlight the plight of one case/cause
• Open up the donation phone line
• Show the result of a previous case, and how the money helped
• Announce the amount raised tonight, an amount that is matched by the TV show (might want to consider an upper limit)

National charity organizations could provide cases, but each case needs to be be small, specific & personalized.

There will be many cases to choose from:

• People who have lost belongings due to fire, flood, theft
• Nice people who have been beaten or attacked
• Nice people with illnesses that need money to cure
• Small businesses fighting corporations
• People caught in a stupid bureaucratic tangle
• People doing "athons" like cycling around the world
• Competitors trying to make it to an international event

This idea is a natural extension of the "we did up someone's house/backyard for free" shows currently rating well in Australia.