CBS’ Big Brother is back — and so are four of the TV show’s most-popular players from years’ past. Will the ratings continue to be strong enough to keep the reality competition on the air for three nights a week?
Below are the TV show’s ratings for the Wednesday editions of the Summer 2012 season, the best way to tell if Big Brother is going to be cancelled or renewed for season 15. Big Brother typically airs on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights on the CBS network.
Check out our CBS summer ratings report card to see how this show’s numbers compare with the others on the network.
These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:
Final Wednesday season averages: 2.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 6.02 million total viewers.
Wednesday, 09/19/12 (season finale)
2.5 in the demo (+19% episode-to-episode change) with 7.39 million.
Season averages: 2.11 in the demo with 6.02 million.
UPDATE: CBS has renewed Big Brother for a 15th season which will air next summer.
Wednesday, 09/12/12
2.1 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 6.19 million.
Season averages: 2.07 in the demo with 5.87 million.
Wednesday, 09/05/12
2.1 in the demo (-9% episode-to-episode change) with 6.09 million.
Season averages: 2.06 in the demo with 5.83 million.
Wednesday, 08/29/12
2.3 in the demo (+10% episode-to-episode change) with 6.40 million.
Season averages: 2.06 in the demo with 5.79 million.
Wednesday, 08/22/12
2.1 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 5.86 million.
Season averages: 2.02 in the demo with 5.69 million.
Wednesday, 08/15/12
2.1 in the demo (+11% episode-to-episode change) with 5.96 million.
Season averages: 2.00 in the demo with 5.66 million.
Wednesday, 08/08/12
1.9 in the demo (-5% episode-to-episode change) with 5.39 million.
Season averages: 2.00 in the demo with 5.59 million.
Wednesday, 08/01/12
2.0 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 5.40 million.
Season averages: 2.00 in the demo with 5.65 million.
Wednesday, 07/25/12
2.0 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 5.77 million.
Season averages: 2.00 in the demo with 5.78 million.
Wednesday, 07/18/12
2.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 5.78 million total viewers.
Season averages: 2.00 in the demo with 5.78 million.
Like the Thursday and Sunday editions, Big Brother’s Wednesday premiere was down year-to-year; down by 23% in the demo (vs. a 2.6 rating) and down by 21% in viewership (vs 7.31 million).
Reference point: Last summer, the Wednesday editions of Big Brother averaged a 2.8 demo rating with 7.59 million total viewers.
Note: These ratings are collected by the Nielsen company and are the final national numbers. These are different from the fast affiliate numbers which are just estimates of the actual ratings and are reported on by most other outlets. The final nationals are typically released within 24 hours of the programming or, in the case of weekends and holidays, a couple days later.
What do you think? Do you like the Big Brother TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for a 15th season?
ABSOLUTELY lOVED THE SHOW! If you’re going to end it; do it with a great ending; OR make a DVD movie with a great movie. DON’T LEAVE THE FANS HAINGIN; THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT!
This and one other one I didn’t watch much. A few years ago, they had a boring cast. This year repeats. I think last year too. FIND NEW POEPLE! Have at least 3-4 older then 40 to bring in us old farts in and then 1 or 2 older cast members wouldn’t get voted off sooner. Best show was the Tommy Lee look a like. Still don’t know what happened the next time he was on and had to leave.
With all of America to pick from, they keep coming back to a small core group to use in the house. Not only is it unfair play to others in the house, but its boring to watch…so I dont! Its really funny when there is a couple old people with bad habits and a couple young people , they should have a couple smokers, gamblers, someone who is OCD…You need to give them more booze and harder rules to live by. But above all, dont bring back the dead year after year….I’m sick of seeing thier faces and even some… Read more »
I don’t agree that Willie was bullied. Reality tv is always heavily edited and they only show you the scenes that will make for higher ratings. No matter what, Willie’s temper got the best of him and the rules clearly state, no aggressive physical interactions. The season may have been better if he’d stayed in the house, but he broke the rules.
This is the worst episode in big brother history, the organizers encouraged house mates to bully an individual the bully’s got a way with it.
Britany is the worst coach, the chef should be sent home , he was the aggressor, but you guys sent the victim away