Unfortunately, these days, if you can get a few thousand viewers to watch your antique finding/treasure hunting/gold mining/selling for big bucks "reality" show, they will continue to produce them. These shows cost very little to produce and the rewards can be huge! The cost of the video and recording equipment is a pittance compared to what it was just 15 years ago and these shows can be edited on virtually a home computer. There biggest expense is probably their air fare and motel costs. It seems that people just love these crappy shows. Those of us who have been collectors, dealers, metal detectors, "pickers", etc. know the real world and what you really find and how much it's really worth. These shows are appealing to people who have never been involved in that hobby or business and they now think this is an easy way to make money. There is a self storage facility up the street from me, they used to get 6 to 12 people attending the storage auctions there, now it's 75 to 100 people all expecting to find what those idiots from Auction Hunters always seem to find. Prices are driven up to the point where no one can hope to make any money any more. I never bought storage lockers, but had many friends who did, they've all quit doing it. It's the same with metal detecting, now people are going to want a "piece of the action" to let you hunt on their land. Prepare for more and more new shows of this sort this summer and fall.
