This is mainly because people use them to have mindless entertainment, shows like talent shows physical competition, series reality, dating shows, and everything in between is equivalent to scrolling through social media or Tik-Tok TikTok, when you just want to relax after A Hard Day's Work, long hours, can live vicariously through those programs because they can watch their real lives of ordinary people besides audience participation off voting for the top.
Contestant is the most attractive part of it.
They can express their voice or preference as an ordinary individual.