'Flies' reality show due to start

By Kim Ghattas
BBC News, New York

A controversial US reality TV show involving children is due to get its first airing on the CBS network.

Kid Nation takes 40 children, some as young as eight, to an abandoned New Mexico desert town where they are left to fend for themselves for 40 days.

The youngsters are meant to create a functioning society with a system of laws, commerce and even a class system.

Critics see the show as a modern version of Lord of the Flies with a Wild West twist.

No outsiders were allowed on the set and children's rights groups have said it is tantamount to child exploitation.

But supporters say it is just a summer camp with cameras all around.

Accidents

The show has been surrounded by controversy and accusations it is using the children as entertainment fodder.

Parents signed a 22-page contract, virtually absolving producers from any responsibility for the children's well-being.

There have been reports of accidents and the children also put in 14-hour days in front of the cameras.

Kim Talman, from the National Association to Protect Children, said: "Child labour laws were pretty lax in New Mexico, it's the reason they went there.

"In California and New York they never would have gotten away with something like this but the way they're skirting that issue is saying that the children were not actually employed."

Bad publicity

Highly-produced CBS promos are the only clue about what is in the show and even TV critics have not seen the first episode yet.

CBS says it is not trying to avoid bad publicity but this is just part of its marketing strategy.

The secrecy surrounding Kid Nation is certainly adding to the hype around the show.

There have been calls for it to be dropped and some advertisers are keeping their distance, but CBS remains unfazed.