We NEED Connection
There is a major thing that this content is greatly lacking. And that is connection. The creators jam-pack their content with so much happening, that they do not actually tell the story of the people in the videos.
The backstory is vital if you want to get that connection with the audience. If Joe Shmo doesn't get $10,000, then that's a bummer. But if you know that this guy competing is really struggling and working 3 jobs trying to put food of the table for their 7 children, then winning or losing is going to mean a lot more to the viewers.