C4 has begun initial discussions with Endemol to secure the rights for future series of Big Brother - but it's not going to be cheap!

The current contract, which ends after Big Brother 8 next year, is worth around £40m a year. As well as the nightly hour-long highlights show, this also includes spin off programmes Big Brother's Little Brother, Big Brother's Big Mouth, Big Brother: Diary Room Uncut and Big Brother's Big Brain.

In addition, there is nightly live streaming on C4 and E4, with further streaming on E4 during the day plus live footage from the house 24 hours a day via interactive TV and the web.

It is not expected that Big Brother will be extended past it's 13 week run of this year, but along with 3-4 weeks of Celebrity Big Brother the show is on C4 for around 4 months a year.



Endemol are said to now be looking to raise the fee to around £70m a year following rumours of ITV's interest in hijacking the format - despite commissioning a survey prior to this series that concluded the format was tired and most fans wanted it axed! However, they changed their mind when Big Brother outrated ITV's Love Island by up to 4:1.


The rumour of an Endemol run "Big Brother channel" has also returned, which would be broadcast over the internet.


C4 and Endemol are currently in confidential talks - and if they can agree a price C4 may avoid a bidding war. If it does get that far though IIRC C4 have the option to match the highest bid if they are unsuccessful.

so are C4 buying it for 70 million then i mean IMO it will be the Best 70 million they EVER spend i mean C4 lost ''LOST'' to sky one so Doubt C4 will ket BB go into RIVALS hands

i osted this before you on the Big Brother 7 section