Possibly many avid soap watchers would turn off Corrie and Eastenders - if instead of peeking on their neighbours through the curtains, they could watch live action on their TV from cameras installed in every room next door (and then be able vote who to evict from it).
And I'm sure they'd also flock to see public executions, whippings and brandings. it doesn't make them right!
I'm intrigued to know what newspaper you read, by the way. My Guardian had nothing like that in it.