Reality TV to dominate autumn pop.

Pop reality TV shows are set to dominate broadcast schedules and music charts this autumn, as details emerge of two rival shows which will go head-to-head on the BBC and ITV.

Mercury Records last week signed rights for Initial's Fame Academy series, which will launch in October or November with blanket coverage promised across BBC TV and radio.

The second Popstars concept--The Rivals--is also due to be unveiled this Monday (July 29) ahead of its debut as a centrepiece of ITV's autumn schedule.

Popstars: The Rivals will feature 10 boys and 10 girls whittled down to two five-strong bands by public vote each week and pitted against each other in the charts by releasing singles on the same day. Although no deal has been confirmed, Polydor is expected to renew its relationship with Granada to give Lucian Grainge's Universal Music a monopoly on the two series.

Mercury Records will release all music from Fame Academy, which is produced by Initial--whose parent Endemol owns international rights to the Big Brother format--and is expected to air in a weekly, primetime BBC1 slot running over several months.

The show, which will also gain exposure on other BBC outlets, including Radio One and BBC Choice, will follow the progress of 12 contestants as they face what Initial describes as "the realities of what it takes to become a music superstar".

Public voting will be used to determine the winner of the series, while a group of yet-to-be-announced figures from the music industry will lend their ...