Other reality formats from that time (Survivor, Bachelor, etc) are essentially game shows with huge fly-on-the-wall component. I they succeeded in the long term because there’s a clear structure, a story line of sorts and a purpose to the end game.
BB thrived even though its structure was well defined and its storyline hazier because, well, horny teenagers and 20-somethings want to see what other horny teenagers and 20-somethings do.
Take away the salacious element and there’s not terribly much of interest in the BB format at all.
Also, as an aside, the first BB will probably always be the best just because it felt more authentic. The contestants didn’t know how they going to be cut, edited and portrayed in the show, so they were themselves.
In subsequent seasons, almost everyone knew what would get them air time or drive their plot, so they played to that. Some were in it for the fame, the infamy or to build a career.
This is my biggest problem with BB today (incl the recent Nine seasons), 10 went all in back in the early 2000s, solid website, live streaming, update, uncut, nomination, evictions… it felt like a proper event series. BB today isn’t an event there’s no audience interaction. With better internet and social media BB should be bigger than ever.
The engagement you see with the Canadian and US versions just from them having a live feed (well, 4 feeds actually) is brilliant - and that serves to be far more effective than any promos spun out by the network. Spoilers galore of course, even with live feed blackouts, but no Big Brother fan is going to be such a fan they search out the spoilers online and then don’t watch the show.
The producers also use it to their advantage - BBUSA had a massive row this year just before a live show once the usual eviction night blackout begins and rather than just cover it in the main show it conveniently “leaked” online that night and was probably the best publicity the series has had in years. And although that wasn’t live it highlighted the importance of a live feed.
Of course though with the show not being live not much point in talking about a live feed.
My prediction is that the air date will be the week immediately following Easter. That’s a common time for new shows to start and gives them plenty of time to have it wrapped up before the Olympics.
I don’t think they should try and launch Big Brother up against MAFS. Especially in those final couple of weeks when MAFS viewing numbers typically go through the roof it would be suicide.
Easter is at the start of April this year and they keep saying that MAFS is a 10 week experiment on the show so I’m doubting it will finish by then. The couples only moved into their apartments together last week so I think would have around 7 weeks to go. So MAFS is more likely to run until late April. Every probabability they will hype up the final 2 weeks of MAFS or something over the Easter break.
If its a 10 week experiment it should be finished the week just before Easter. Easter starts 10th April. Unless by 10 week experiment you mean excluding the marriage stuff? I don’t watch it so I have no idea how all of it works.