Xfinity Tests A New Reality Competition Model For Emerging Creators With Katie Feeney As Host

Pictured: Katie Feeney (image by Xfinity / Rock Studios)

Courtesy of Xfinity/Rock Studios

Reality tv introduces audiences to caller personalities, galore of whom spell connected to found careers aft their clip connected the show. Vertical reality title could connection existing creators different exemplary for profession growth.

Xfinity’s Best successful Class, a seven-episode vertical reality title series, follows six assemblage creators competing for a six-figure marque partnership. Episode 2, premiering August 12 connected Xfinity’s Instagram and TikTok, challenges the creators to nutrient sports hype reels earlier a astonishment curveball has them beforehand unconventional sports, pinch contestants Marcus Quinn and Mackenzie Fullam winning the challenge.

The bid debuted August 5 pinch its first episode, “Move-in Day!,” which generated much than 2.2 cardinal views, 7,800 likes and 125 comments crossed Instagram and TikTok. Hosted by 2026 TIME100 Creator Katie Feeney and produced by NBCUniversal’s Rock Studios, the imaginative motor down marque activity for Love Island USA and The Traitors, Best successful Class was based connected a conception from Xfinity’s agency Carmichael Lynch and created specifically for societal media.

Reality title has traditionally been designed for tv and streaming, but Best successful Class reimagines the genre done astir five-minute vertical episodes. Julie Scelzo, main imaginative serviceman astatine Xfinity, said to maine connected a telephone telephone that the format explores unfamiliar territory for reality competition. “The thought of trying to do it successful much bite-sized content, successful a vertical format, is thing that hasn’t been proven yet,” Scelzo said.

Microdramas person gained traction arsenic a shape of vertical scripted entertainment. The short-form genre is projected to turn from $11 cardinal successful 2025 to $14 cardinal successful 2026 successful world revenue. NBCUniversal has seen maturation successful short-form mobile viewing arsenic well. In 2025, short-form contented viewed connected Peacock mobile accrued 257% twelvemonth complete year.

NBCUniversal and Xfinity developed the bid pinch younger audiences successful mind. Karen Kovacs, president of Advertising & Partnerships astatine NBCUniversal, said connected a telephone telephone that younger audiences person a heavy relationship to creators, who person built communities and spot pinch them. That made assemblage creators a earthy starting constituent for a bid aimed astatine younger integer audiences.

For Best successful Class, reality title offered a chance to bring an established intermezo genre to that short-form environment. Kovacs said title reality “garners excitement and instrumentality love” while giving the creators a chance to showcase their personalities and attack to creating contented successful their ain voices.

That process includes the proceedings and correction audiences do not spot successful a creator’s vanished content. Feeney said to maine successful an email that Best successful Class shows contestants second-guessing concepts, scrapping ideas and adjusting their attack earlier reaching the last product. “You seldom get to spot that broadside of the imaginative process connected societal media,” she said.

The profession down the contented tin beryllium conscionable arsenic difficult to navigate. Feeney said much young group are pursuing careers arsenic creators, which has caused much title connected societal platforms. College creators whitethorn still beryllium figuring retired wherever contented creation fits successful their careers. Scelzo said the contestants are astatine a shape wherever they are deciding whether creating will beryllium a broadside gig aliases their main job, while the creator manufacture is still developing general profession pathways.

Reality tv has a way grounds of opening caller profession opportunities. After Love Island USA Season 7, Huda Mustafa gained 2.4 cardinal Instagram followers successful 30 days, Taylor Williams and Clarke Carraway appeared successful an Arby’s run pinch millions of societal views, and Olandria Carthen was catapulted into manner and Hollywood circles, appearing alongside A-listers astatine awesome manufacture events.

Reality stars person besides joined different areas of entertainment. Gabby Windey, who appeared connected The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Dancing With the Stars and The Traitors, has since landed roles successful Netflix and A24 projects. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives prima Whitney Leavitt appeared arsenic Roxie Hart successful Chicago connected Broadway.

Best successful Class reverses the accepted way of reality contestant to creator. Its contestants participate the title already identifying arsenic creators and pinch ambitions to prosecute the activity professionally.

Reality title gives those creators different spot to scope audiences, create their skills and perchance find caller profession opportunities. More young group pursuing creator careers could springiness the genre a caller role: helping existing talent return the adjacent step.