Summary

Survivor stays in Fiji to save money by repurposing parts of the country, which trims production costs significantly.
Host Jeff Probst loves the gorgeous Fiji location and hopes to keep the show filming there indefinitely.
Fiji's government s the show, offering incentives and logistical assistance, while the location provides stunning backdrops.

Survivor season 46 is well underway, also taking place in Fiji.

The Survivor franchise has been on TV since the late 90s. It's visited some of the wildest locations, and had mind-blowing conclusions. In season 2, The Australian Outback, the series went to Herbert River, Australia. At the time, 40-year-old Tina Wesson stunned everyone when she became the first female sole survivor, lasting 42 days. She won 1 million US dollars against much younger contestants, which was praiseworthy. When Survivor began, it took the cast to different locations each season. However, since Survivor season 33, the featured location (the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji) hasn't changed.

Survivor Saves Money By Filming In Fiji

In the past, the series has shown cast trying to survive in Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, Panama, Samoa, and a range of other locations. However, it's remained in the Melanesian country, Fiji, since 2016. The desire to save money may be driving this decision. Going to new locations each season requires a lot of research and setup, and demands a bigger cash outlay. However, Survivor saves money each time it repurposes parts of Fiji. A US dollar is more than twice the value of a Fijian dollar, so it's possible that the show’s production company is trimming costs by staying in Fiji.

Jeff Probst Likes The Fiji Location On Survivor

Another probable reason why Survivor stays in Fiji could be related to show presenter, Jeff Probst. In a past interview, Jeff shared his love of the iconic location, and told everyone that he never wanted to leave such a paradise. He said (via Forbes), “I hope we stay here forever,” adding that Fiji has become his and his team’s home. He wants the show to continue there until its end.

The show also gets massive from Fiji's government, which producers might not get anywhere else. Whether it's because the government thinks the show increases tourism, or some other reason, the country's higher-ups want to keep Survivor in their region. The government offers incentives and assistance to ensure a smooth filming process. This includes permits, security, and logistical .

Simply put,, Fiji also offers stunning landscapes with pristine beaches, lush jungles, and diverse terrain. This provides the show with visually appealing backdrops for challenges and tribal councils. Instead of having to find new locales, production is able to keep it consistent. This saves them money and time. During the writers' strike, there was pressure for reality TV to keep producing. Not changing location enabled Survivor to release seasons more quickly.

Logistically, Fiji is relatively easy to access for production crews and contestants coming from various parts of the world. It has a well-developed tourism infrastructure, including international airports and a range of accommodation options. This is in contrast to more inaccessible locations. While adding to the castaway feel, it might not be cost-effective for a network trying to churn out endless seasons of the hit reality TV series.

Additionally, Fiji's climate provides consistent warm temperatures and minimal risk of extreme weather events, which is crucial for filming a show like Survivor where contestants are exposed to the elements for extended periods. While the show tests cast ' ability to survive, production still hasn't considered the safety of its participants. Having to evacuate due to weather events would halt production and waste money.

Finally, it could be that Survivor is staying in Fiji because of the show’s current production company, MGM Television. Since 2016, MGM Television has been handling the show’s production exclusively. That same year, Survivor began featuring Mamanuca Islands as its central location, and hasn’t moved since. MGM Television's Survivor production team are used to filming the show in Fiji, and have it down to a science. Therefore, it's likely that the producers save a lot of time by not moving the show setup around. The COVID-19 pandemic could also be another reason why keeping Survivor in Fiji saved time and effort.