Big Brother: Summer Series Renewed for Two Seasons

CBS has picked up their venerable summer TV series Big Brother for two additional seasons. Airing three times a week, the reality series will air through the summer of 2016.

Here’s the press release:

CBS RENEWS HIT SUMMER SERIES “BIG BROTHER” FOR TWO MORE EDITIONS

The Series Has Posted Year-to-Year Gains in Viewers and Adults 18-49

Special 90-Minute Finale to be Broadcast Tonight, 9:30-11:00 PM,

Following the Season Premiere of “Survivor”

CBS has renewed the summer reality hit BIG BROTHER for its 17th and 18th editions for broadcast in summer 2015 and 2016. The series is hosted by Julie Chen.

Since premiering on CBS in the summer of 2000, BIG BROTHER has consistently finished among the summer’s top-rated series in young demographics. This summer’s edition is up +2% in viewers (7.56m from 7.39m) and +4% in adults 18-49 (2.7/09 from 2.6/08), while averaging 3.1/09 in adults 25-54 and 1.9/08 in adults 18-34. All three weekly broadcasts of BIG BROTHER rank among the top 10 programs of the summer in adults 18-49.

“BIG BROTHER continues to be the one of the summer’s most dominant programs, and with each season, Allison and Rich produce the most twisted ways to evolve the series creatively,” said Chris Castallo, CBS Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming. “With its one-of-a-kind format, coupled with its passionate, socially engaged fan base, no other show comes close to duplicating it.”

“Big Brother After Dark,” the ultimate fan after-show for BIG BROTHER with a live late-night look inside the House, has also been renewed for next summer. “Big Brother After Dark” will air exclusively on POP, a new cable network (currently known as TVGN) launching in 2015.

In addition to its popularity on broadcast and cable, BIG BROTHER is one of television’s most socially engaged series. According to Nielsen’s SocialGuide, BIG BROTHER is the #1 social broadcast reality show of the summer.

The special 90-minute season finale of this summer’s edition of BIG BROTHER will be broadcast tonight (9:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT) following the 90-minute season premiere of SURVIVOR (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT). Derrick, Cody and Victoria are the final three Houseguests who will compete for the $500,000 prize.

BIG BROTHER follows a group of people living together in a house outfitted with 76 HD cameras and more than 100 microphones recording their every move, 24 hours a day. Each week, the Houseguests vote someone out of the house. The last remaining Houseguest will receive the grand prize of $500,000.

BIG BROTHER is executive produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan for Fly on the Wall Entertainment, in association with Endemol U.S.A.

What do you think? Do you enjoy this summer series? Is a two season renewal a good idea?