The Real Phenomenon
How One Adventure Race Sparked Reality TV's Golden Age

Eco-Challenge was more than just a grueling adventure race—it was television history in the making. Created by the same producer who would later bring us "Survivor," this groundbreaking show became the first sports event to spring from America's emerging reality TV craze.

Together with MTV's "Real World," Eco-Challenge helped launch an entertainment revolution that would forever change how we watch television. What started as athletes pushing their limits in remote locations became the blueprint for reality programming as we know it today.

To capture the raw energy of the event, we selected images from video footage with a documentary-style quality that brings you right into the action and excitement of the Eco-Challenge competition.