# Is "Survivor" fixed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-survivor-fixed/174671 "2003-05-12T12:08:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-survivor-fixed/174671/1 "2003-05-12T12:08:45Z")
Did you hear about CBS top brass betting on Surivivor, via an Internet website, and winning mulitple times? Hmm… So, I ask you: In general, are these reality shows fixed, in reality? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-survivor-fixed/174671/2 "2003-05-12T12:14:03Z")
I’m not sure the outcome would be (outright) manipulated, but if any betting were going on, it would probably be based on people who got in on the secret. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-survivor-fixed/174671/3 "2003-05-12T12:23:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jinx \* > \*\*Did you hear about CBS top brass betting on Surivivor, via an Internet website, and winning mulitple times? Hmm… > So, I ask you: In general, are these reality shows fixed, in reality? > > - Jinx \*\* That isn’t evidence of a fix. The outcome of the show is determined months before the final episode airs. They just knew ahead of time and put down the big bucks at the betting sites. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-survivor-fixed/174671/4 "2003-05-12T12:25:40Z")
Yes, but aren’t they under a gag order until the episode airs? If that’s true, then it seems a teeny bit unfair - unless, of course, the erstwhile contestants could also bet on it… ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-survivor-fixed/174671/5 "2003-05-12T12:28:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Yes, but aren’t they under a gag order until the episode airs? If that’s true, then it seems a teeny bit unfair - unless, of course, the erstwhile contestants could also bet on it… \*\* It’s certainly against the rules, and the people should be fired that bet on the show. I was just saying it’s not evidence that the winner is predetermined – just that he or she is known before the final airs. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-survivor-fixed/174671/6 "2003-05-12T12:44:06Z")
Yep, the producers know who won on the island. They use NDA’s to keep it secret. That worked before there was some money to be had by gambling. Still, I believe they know who was cheating the betting houses (which I believe is a crime in Vegas), so they will get theirs. Besides, if it were fixed, you think they would picked Jenna? Rob would be counting his cash now if it were. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-survivor-fixed/174671/7 "2003-05-12T13:31:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoGoodNamesLeft \* > \*\*I’m not sure the outcome would be (outright) manipulated, but if any betting were going on, it would probably be based on people who got in on the secret. \*\* Mark Burnett does have a history of changing immunity challenge rules in the middle of a challenge. I don’t know if he’s done any of that lately though.