To no surprise, CBS has ordered two more cycles of their venerable reality series, Survivor. Host and executive producer Jeff Probst has signed a new agreement to return as well. Since CBS airs two editions per calendar year, this will take the series through the 2011-12 season.

Here’s the press release from CBS…

CBS ORDERS TWO MORE EDITIONS OF “SURVIVOR” FOR BROADCAST DURING THE 2011-2012 SEASON
Jeff Probst Signs New Agreement to Return as Host/Executive Producer

CBS has ordered two more editions of SURVIVOR to be broadcast during the 2011-2012 season. These will mark the 23rd and 24th editions of television’s longest-running hit reality competition series.

Additionally, Emmy Award-winner Jeff Probst has signed a new agreement to continue as host and as an executive producer for the 23rd and 24th editions. Probst has hosted SURVIVOR since its inception.

“‘Survivor’ is a program franchise that continues to stand the test of time. Each season delivers new faces, exotic places, the ultimate social experiment combined with game play, and one of the most engaged audiences anywhere on primetime television,” said Jennifer Bresnan, CBS Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming.

This season, SURVIVOR moved from its long-established Thursday time period to Wednesday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). The fall edition, SURVIVOR: NICARAGUA, continued its time-period-winning ways, placing first in viewers (13.61m), adults 18-49 (4.3//12) and adults 25-54 (5.6/14).

SURVIVOR improved the year-ago time period by +84% in viewers, +79% in adults 18-49 and +87% in adults 25-54, while also improving upon last season’s Thursday performance by 1% in viewers and +4% in adults 25-54.

The current spring edition, SURVIVOR: REDEMPTION ISLAND which features the new redemption island format, continues to perform strongly opposite “American Idol,” averaging 11.70 million viewers, 3.4/10 in adults 18-49 and 4.6/11 in adults 25-54 while improving the year-ago time period by +150% in viewers, +162% in adults 18-49 and +156% in adults 25-54.

The groundbreaking reality series, which premiered in May 2000, won an Emmy Award in 2001 in the category of “Outstanding Non-Fiction Program” (Special Class). Host Jeff Probst is a three-time Emmy Award winner in the category of “Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Series.”

SURVIVOR is hosted by Emmy Award-winner Jeff Probst and produced by SEG, Inc. Mark Burnett, Jeff Probst and David Burris are executive producers.

What do you think? Are you glad to hear that Survivor will be back? Could it go on without Probst as host?

Image courtesy CBS.