Did you ever actually watch the live feed?

[Tom]

Basically which do you fit into?

Just interested to see whether people actually bothered with the red button feed. And more importantly, will it affect how you view BB this year?

I don't get all the "BB is over without the live feed" talk as I don't think that many people actually watched the red button version anyway.

For me as I only ever watch the highlights and the odd bit of E4 live streaming at night, I won't be affected.

[Tom4784]

Not really, if something major was happening then yeah but I never watched it for more then a few minutes sicne the bird calls annoy me. I'd watch LF at times if there was no bird calls or exterior shots but that's not possible so to me it tends to be pointless.

[Ninastar]

yes,

[Spike]

I would usually watch it for an hour on E4 before I go to sleep at night if nothing else was on
and maybe the odd hour in the afternoon
My enjoyment of the show comes from the highlights shows so BB10 will be the same viewing experience for me

[MarkWaldorf]

Only at night when I'm in bed/online here discussing it in the live feed thread. It doesn't bother me that its been axed in the day and doesn't affect my opinion on the show either.

[BBDodge]

From BB5 onwards, when I was off work I would watch 4 or 5 hours during the day, doing live updates on another site. I used to take week 1 as annual leave just so I could do this and get to know all the housemates. After weel 1 I would tape/record loads of stuff when I was out, just in case something momentous happened and I could check back to watch it unfold. There were also loads of Youtube clips taken from the live feed, and all the various live update threads on BB fan sites that I would have on my computer screen at work to keep abreast of what was happening. BB was a total experience (though extending it to 13 weeks was too much and a big mistake).

Each night I turn over after BBBM and watch live feed for an hour or so before turning in for the night. I can still do that for BB10, it seems.

Never did this for CBB as I don't much like the concept. BB:CH was terrific, though.

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by BBDodge
From BB5 onwards, when I was off work I would watch 4 or 5 hours during the day, doing live updates on another site. I used to take week 1 as annual leave just so I could do this and get to know all the housemates. After weel 1 I would tape/record loads of stuff when I was out, just in case something momentous happened and I could check back to watch it unfold. There were also loads of Youtube clips taken from the live feed, and all the various live update threads on BB fan sites that I would have on my computer screen at work to keep abreast of what was happening. BB was a total experience (though extending it to 13 weeks was too much and a big mistake).

Each night I turn over after BBBM and watch live feed for an hour or so before turning in for the night. I can still do that for BB10, it seems.

Never did this for CBB as I don't much like the concept. BB:CH was terrific, though.

No offence to you, but L O L

[Fom]

Not really, never interested me... watching people sit about and talk? At least with the highlights they cut out the rubbish and it is all watchable stuff.

[MichaelCracker]

Depends... usually the times I want to watch I have to red button it
but yeah I watch at least half an hour everyday via red button
Some days we leave it on constant

[*mazedsalv**]

Yep every day, between 4-7 and after 10 onwards would be the time i watched it most.

[Billy]

Originally posted by BBDodge
From BB5 onwards, when I was off work I would watch 4 or 5 hours during the day, doing live updates on another site. I used to take week 1 as annual leave just so I could do this and get to know all the housemates. After weel 1 I would tape/record loads of stuff when I was out, just in case something momentous happened and I could check back to watch it unfold. There were also loads of Youtube clips taken from the live feed, and all the various live update threads on BB fan sites that I would have on my computer screen at work to keep abreast of what was happening. BB was a total experience (though extending it to 13 weeks was too much and a big mistake).

Each night I turn over after BBBM and watch live feed for an hour or so before turning in for the night. I can still do that for BB10, it seems.

Never did this for CBB as I don't much like the concept. BB:CH was terrific, though.

ROTFLMAO.

[WATERS]

To fall asleep to.

[DigitalSid]

Yes, but that really isn't the point that's being made. Without a live feed, the whole idea behind this show (viewers watching housemates 24-7) has gone. Promotion (journo's sourcing stories from the live feed) has gone, fan sites (which got their stories from forums where people watched the live feed) has gone.

Hell these forums will be pretty much dead, because there will only be an hour's viewing to disect each day, a highly edited 46 and a half minute highlights broadcast.

[supernoodles!]

Originally posted by BBDodge
From BB5 onwards, when I was off work I would watch 4 or 5 hours during the day, doing live updates on another site. I used to take week 1 as annual leave just so I could do this and get to know all the housemates. After weel 1 I would tape/record loads of stuff when I was out, just in case something momentous happened and I could check back to watch it unfold. There were also loads of Youtube clips taken from the live feed, and all the various live update threads on BB fan sites that I would have on my computer screen at work to keep abreast of what was happening. BB was a total experience (though extending it to 13 weeks was too much and a big mistake).

Each night I turn over after BBBM and watch live feed for an hour or so before turning in for the night. I can still do that for BB10, it seems.

Never did this for CBB as I don't much like the concept. BB:CH was terrific, though.

hardcore

[MrGaryy]

I chose red button all the time but really i never used the red button i used the secret sky channel.

[Tom]

Originally posted by DigitalSid
Yes, but that really isn't the point that's being made. Without a live feed, the whole idea behind this show (viewers watching housemates 24-7) has gone. Promotion (journo's sourcing stories from the live feed) has gone, fan sites (which got their stories from forums where people watched the live feed) has gone.

Hell these forums will be pretty much dead, because there will only be an hour's viewing to disect each day, a highly edited 46 and a half minute highlights broadcast.

There wasn't really much interest around BB9 though and that held a solid audience. Nor reason why BB10 can't do the same

These forums are quite active as well so its not that bad ...

The idea behind the show was a novelty when it came out but that has gone now and noone uses it anymore

I'd rather sit through 46 minutes of heavily edited highlights if they are entertaining than hours of watching people sat around with bird noises blocking out everything even interesting in the slightest

[PinkSmurf]

Originally posted by WATERS
To fall asleep to.

Nothing like hearing someone snore to make you fall asleep :wink:

[MrGaryy]

I really don't understand people who this. Okay, you don't get the live feed obsession- what is there not to get. Obviously some people did enjoy it and didn't care about bird noise.

The feed is an essential part of the show, it's one of it's main properties.

[brumas]

hi,new member,,,maybe reason to stop live feed something to do with pc brigade? without feed not really bb, will give it ago but think will loose interest.anyway hello all and lets see how it goes,maybe the e4 live stream will maintain my interest, noticed last year house mates aware when live e4 stream was on,but of course never sure who was watching via red button,they can now relax during day,,,,,,,,,,just play up to camera for e4 stream,

[BigBrotherfan4ever]

I watched LF from about 10am in the morning untill about 4ish in the aferernoon, then again from about 7ish untill HL show on C4, & then again 3/4 hours after that.

So yeah i did watch LF & i will miss it a lot this year:mad:

[Tom]

Originally posted by MrGaryy
I really don't understand people who this. Okay, you don't get the live feed obsession- what is there not to get. Obviously some people did enjoy it and didn't care about bird noise.

The feed is an essential part of the show, it's one of it's main properties.

Its not that I don't get- what I don't get is people who say the show is over without the 24 hour live feed. How, when noone watched it and the papers don't really pick up on stories now anyway?

[Harry!]

Yes I watched like a hour a day.

[supernoodles!]

tbh I`m gutted about live feed,I diddnt sit there and just stare at the screen but I loved having it on whilst I was in the house in the back ground kinda thing,or when Im in bed,or while im on the computor.

[max]

24/7 365 days a year gimme gimme:thumbs2:

[MrGaryy]

Originally posted by Tom
Originally posted by MrGaryy
I really don't understand people who this. Okay, you don't get the live feed obsession- what is there not to get. Obviously some people did enjoy it and didn't care about bird noise.

The feed is an essential part of the show, it's one of it's main properties.

Its not that I don't get- what I don't get is people who say the show is over without the 24 hour live feed. How, when noone watched it and the papers don't really pick up on stories now anyway?

how can you say no one watched it when the majority of the forums are complaining over it being axed. Clearly a lot of people watched it.

[Tom]

Originally posted by MrGaryy
Originally posted by Tom
Originally posted by MrGaryy
I really don't understand people who this. Okay, you don't get the live feed obsession- what is there not to get. Obviously some people did enjoy it and didn't care about bird noise.

The feed is an essential part of the show, it's one of it's main properties.

Its not that I don't get- what I don't get is people who say the show is over without the 24 hour live feed. How, when noone watched it and the papers don't really pick up on stories now anyway?

how can you say no one watched it when the majority of the forums are complaining over it being axed. Clearly a lot of people watched it.

In comparison to highlights viewers I mean .................................. and a whole 22 complaints made. Not that it doesn't mean only 22 people watched, but suggests not many feel as strongly about it as they let on

[MrGaryy]

Well obviously the highlights were alway going to get more viewers, they pick up casual viewers and are at a peak time. You can hardly compare the two.

[Mister-Darko]

Yeah, I always used to watch it when I was awake at like 2AM.

[BIG-BRO-FAN]

I watched the live feed whenever possible. Mostly late at night.

[craiga1993]

i didn't. i did at the start but then it started to get really boring when you coudn't hear what they were saying or they were just lying there :(

[MR.K!]

The only time i ever watched it was after an eviction for an hour or so thats it.

[SammyAyee]

i used to watch it by red button if there was nothing else on or if i was bored.

[Princess]

Well we don't have the red button here. When I was proper obsessed I used to watch it all the time. For BB9 I watched it if I was bored or someone said something interesting was happening. I did watch loads of edited Live Feed on YouTube though.

[Patrick]

Call me sad..
But almost my whole summer I sat in my room on the computer while watching Live feed through the red button, Missed it so much when i went on Holiday!
And at night i sat up to about 4 in the morning watchen it although Darnell and Kat were all there was to see at that time lol

BB Live feed is 1000 times better than BBBM and BBLB

[Stentionhouse]

Not a great deal, but it wasn't necessary because you had the live update threads to keep you in the loop. No LF=no LUTs. No idea what's going on in the house...quickly leading to disinterest. CBB6 got the lowest viewing figures ever because people were bored...and that was after 3 weeks, with celebs.

[ozzycam]

Yes all the time couldnt wait to get everyone out of the house in the morning and hog it all day ......lol:tongue:

[Wildcat!]

I watched it, and I watched whenever I wasnt doing anything. And yeah, it will make a huge difference. YOure not gonna get the real feeling in the house anymore. You will only get what the producers want you to see. So anything controversial that happens, anything real, that actually happened will be edited out.

YOu dont have to watch Live Feed 24/7, but if you go on forums, especially DS, there are people at different times that watch, so as a FM, you can come and read what had happened while you werent watching.

Its a huge part of BB, even for some of you people that dont watch LF, when you come on the forum, you read stories from people who were watching, so you were informed through the LF without realising it.
I am not really gonna care all that much because now I know, the show will go as the producers want.

[Christina]

When nothings on i always used to switch over to E4 to watch it!

[Zac]

I only watch about 2 hours of live feed in a week, and I only watched the live feed in BB9, the only reason that I would ever watch the live feed is because i'd have nothing better to do at the time.

[supernoodles!]

tbh I thought all tru bb fans watched it at some point or other,I thought it was only the people who called themselves fans who restricted themselves to JUST highlight shows.Ya know the kind of people who vote the pretty girl out first and always want the stereotypical good looking male to win,they always love the comical gay and the hate all the opinionated and complex characters.

[Brekkie]

Originally posted by Tom
I don't get all the "BB is over without the live feed" talk as I don't think that many people actually watched the red button version anyway.
In that case you don't really get BB.


Even if you never watch the live feed, I'm certain anyone who calls themselves a fan of the show reads articles and forum threads posted online as a result of it happening on the live feed, or even occassionally browses through the various live feed updates scattered across forums and fansites.


Even if there is just one event in the series which you might tune into watch live, the removal of the live feed means that aspect of the show is no longer an option for you - and that means BB is no longer the show it once was.


As someone on Digital Spy put it, the show is no longer BB, but now more like "Big Second Cousin Twice Removed".

[Wildcat!]

Originally posted by Stentionhouse
Not a great deal, but it wasn't necessary because you had the live update threads to keep you in the loop. No LF=no LUTs. No idea what's going on in the house...quickly leading to disinterest. CBB6 got the lowest viewing figures ever because people were bored...and that was after 3 weeks, with celebs.

Thats exactly how I felt with CBB! It was OK at the beginning, but as soon as I saw the first few housemate nominated, I realised it didnt make any sense. WHich means things are happening in the house that we never get to see, or hear of. So at the end of the day, it was just boring, and I couldnt care less. I didnt even watch the highlights anymore. I am afraind it might become the same for BB10.

[DigitalSid]

Originally posted by Tom
Originally posted by DigitalSid
Yes, but that really isn't the point that's being made. Without a live feed, the whole idea behind this show (viewers watching housemates 24-7) has gone. Promotion (journo's sourcing stories from the live feed) has gone, fan sites (which got their stories from forums where people watched the live feed) has gone.

Hell these forums will be pretty much dead, because there will only be an hour's viewing to disect each day, a highly edited 46 and a half minute highlights broadcast.

There wasn't really much interest around BB9 though and that held a solid audience. Nor reason why BB10 can't do the same

These forums are quite active as well so its not that bad ...

The idea behind the show was a novelty when it came out but that has gone now and noone uses it anymore

I'd rather sit through 46 minutes of heavily edited highlights if they are entertaining than hours of watching people sat around with bird noises blocking out everything even interesting in the slightest

BB9 had a live feed though.

CBB6 however didn't, and it bombed and the forums, even on D.S., the largest ones of the lot, were dormant most of the day.

Your still not getting the point. Whether we watch it or not, it should be there as an option. Even the poorer countries have a live feed for their big brothers, this channel 4 money crysis (which by the way is bull) is no excuse.

The live feed is what makes BB unique and generates interest, Big Brother all around the world is about watching the housemates 24-7, always has been and always will be.

It's the most important part of the show, the heart if you will, and channel 4 cut it out.

[Tom]

Originally posted by Brekkie
In that case you don't really get BB.


Even if you never watch the live feed, I'm certain anyone who calls themselves a fan of the show reads articles and forum threads posted online as a result of it happening on the live feed, or even occassionally browses through the various live feed updates scattered across forums and fansites.


Even if there is just one event in the series which you might tune into watch live, the removal of the live feed means that aspect of the show is no longer an option for you - and that means BB is no longer the show it once was.


As someone on Digital Spy put it, the show is no longer BB, but now more like "Big Second Cousin Twice Removed".

Most viewers who call themselves fans probably won't go any further than the Channel 4 website when looking online. Forum members are in a huge minority when it comes to BB. Most big things happen at night and the summer housemates are always up until about 4am or 5am anyway, it won't be like Celeb BB where as soon as the live feed comes on you're staring at Tina Malone with her gob wide open.

Originally posted by DigitalSid
Originally posted by Tom
Originally posted by DigitalSid
Yes, but that really isn't the point that's being made. Without a live feed, the whole idea behind this show (viewers watching housemates 24-7) has gone. Promotion (journo's sourcing stories from the live feed) has gone, fan sites (which got their stories from forums where people watched the live feed) has gone.

Hell these forums will be pretty much dead, because there will only be an hour's viewing to disect each day, a highly edited 46 and a half minute highlights broadcast.

There wasn't really much interest around BB9 though and that held a solid audience. Nor reason why BB10 can't do the same

These forums are quite active as well so its not that bad ...

The idea behind the show was a novelty when it came out but that has gone now and noone uses it anymore

I'd rather sit through 46 minutes of heavily edited highlights if they are entertaining than hours of watching people sat around with bird noises blocking out everything even interesting in the slightest

BB9 had a live feed though.

CBB6 however didn't, and it bombed and the forums, even on D.S., the largest ones of the lot, were dormant most of the day.

Your still not getting the point. Whether we watch it or not, it should be there as an option. Even the poorer countries have a live feed for their big brothers, this channel 4 money crysis (which by the way is bull) is no excuse.

The live feed is what makes BB unique and generates interest, Big Brother all around the world is about watching the housemates 24-7, always has been and always will be.

It's the most important part of the show, the heart if you will, and channel 4 cut it out.

BB9 was also good, CBB6 wasn't. I usually love CBB even more than the main one, but even I only managed a week.

When talking about CBB6 ratings it always makes me laugh how the first week is completely disregarded. Aside from when they put it on at 11pm everything was above 3m, some of it even touching on 4m. IIRC some the second week wasn't so bad either and it wasn't until the last week when it all went into meltdown. It was an awful series and I don't think a live feed even would've helped that. Of course the fact it was awful had absolutely nothing at all to do with it and it was all the fault of no live streaming :sleep:

Other similar shows can survive without a live feed. I'm a Celebrity did fine without one, and Hells Kitchen (which this year was formatted more like Big Brother than previous series') managed figures BB would be proud of without one. I think both shows have had one at some point. OK I know the live feed used to be a pivotal point for BB and 2m watched Nasty Nick exposed on the live feed back in 2000 ... but now the figures don't come anywhere near that, and media interest isn't that much. E4 figures are usually about average for E4, and with hardly anyone knowing about the red button service I doubt the figures were great for that either.

[dpbb3]

if nothing else is on i end up watching it.
i know last year i was up revising for exams and stuff so i did just stick it on for abit, watch them all sleeping. ohh how exciting my life was.

[Wildcat!]

So if you now that most forum live feed viewers visit the forums a lot, why would you open this thread on a forum, knowing the audience?

[Tom]

Originally posted by Aint_mad_atcha
So if you now that most forum live feed viewers visit the forums a lot, why would you open this thread on a forum, knowing the audience?

If forum viewers are most likely to watch the live feed and only half of them used the red button (which is what the results show atm), what hope does that give the rest of the public when not all people who visited forums even knew a red button existed?

I'm not saying there shouldn't be a live feed (there should) I'm just saying theres no reason BB can't carry on without one

[Stentionhouse]

Originally posted by Aint_mad_atcha
Originally posted by Stentionhouse
Not a great deal, but it wasn't necessary because you had the live update threads to keep you in the loop. No LF=no LUTs. No idea what's going on in the house...quickly leading to disinterest. CBB6 got the lowest viewing figures ever because people were bored...and that was after 3 weeks, with celebs.

Thats exactly how I felt with CBB! It was OK at the beginning, but as soon as I saw the first few housemate nominated, I realised it didnt make any sense. WHich means things are happening in the house that we never get to see, or hear of. So at the end of the day, it was just boring, and I couldnt care less. I didnt even watch the highlights anymore. I am afraind it might become the same for BB10.

Tina Malone said she was shocked after watching the highlights shows back when she left the house - loads and loads of stuff was completely ignored. With no live feed, they basically have a script of how they want things to pan out and just edit stuff to suit that agenda. So it's not reality TV at all any more, just another bad soap.

[Stentionhouse]

Originally posted by Tom
Originally posted by Aint_mad_atcha
So if you now that most forum live feed viewers visit the forums a lot, why would you open this thread on a forum, knowing the audience?

If forum viewers are most likely to watch the live feed and only half of them used the red button (which is what the results show atm), what hope does that give the rest of the public when not all people who visited forums even knew a red button existed?

I'm not saying there shouldn't be a live feed (there should) I'm just saying theres no reason BB can't carry on without one

BB can't exist without the live feed (at least not with enough viewers to make it viable). Events that happen on the LF are picked up by the forums and the media. The word is spread and more people take an interest. That's how BB1, BB3 and BB5 became massive successes.

With only 45 minutes of edited footage per day, to document the activities of 16 housemates over a 24 hour period, it's obvious that all viewers will see is a tiny fraction of what's actually been happening. It will be impossible to get to know most, if not all, of the HMs. Interest will wane within two weeks. After a month the viewing figures will be lower than they've ever been. By the six week mark it will be obvious the show is dead without the LF, but the producers will just start chucking more and more people in the house and coming up with ever more ludicrous twists.

It's a shame that a once great show has been reduced to this travesty.

[Wildcat!]

Like you said its gonna be very soap opera like. This past CBB, it seemed the housemates even knew, when the show was live. Tommy said it a couple of times. SO they just have them do whtever they want, until they are live and they start acting all phony. Its very easy to be phony for a few hours a day. NOt so much 24/7.

[Tom]

Originally posted by Stentionhouse
Originally posted by Tom
Originally posted by Aint_mad_atcha
So if you now that most forum live feed viewers visit the forums a lot, why would you open this thread on a forum, knowing the audience?

If forum viewers are most likely to watch the live feed and only half of them used the red button (which is what the results show atm), what hope does that give the rest of the public when not all people who visited forums even knew a red button existed?

I'm not saying there shouldn't be a live feed (there should) I'm just saying theres no reason BB can't carry on without one

BB can't exist without the live feed (at least not with enough viewers to make it viable). Events that happen on the LF are picked up by the forums and the media. The word is spread and more people take an interest. That's how BB1, BB3 and BB5 became massive successes.

With only 45 minutes of edited footage per day, to document the activities of 16 housemates over a 24 hour period, it's obvious that all viewers will see is a tiny fraction of what's actually been happening. It will be impossible to get to know most, if not all, of the HMs. Interest will wane within two weeks. After a month the viewing figures will be lower than they've ever been. By the six week mark it will be obvious the show is dead without the LF, but the producers will just start chucking more and more people in the house and coming up with ever more ludicrous twists.

It's a shame that a once great show has been reduced to this travesty.

Its inevitable that the ratings are going to be lower than they've ever been, its just a common trend because BB is dying because people are losing interest. The live feed isn't the solution as BB10 will be the 17th series of Big Brother and hardly any shows make it that far. The sad truth is it has run its course. Its time to accept that. BB can never be restored. But I doubt they're going to be significantly down. The furthest they'll drop to is imo what would result in a series average of 2.8m but I can see it staying above 3m. BB9 and CBB6 had similar levels of media interest (ie next to none), but oh wait the live feed causes forum discussion, tabloid stories and media interest, so ultimately higher viewing figures yet the ratings for the last week of CBB6 fell through the floor whilst BB9 held nice and steady despite having similar levels of coverage. Hmm, something doesn't ring right here ...

I also think its laughable that you think they'll do silly twists, thats so 2007. They never bothered with any in BB9 and CBB6 because we told them we didn't want them, y'know us forum members who know it all. It didn't exactly restore BB in the way we thought, maybe we don't know everything about what the public want.

Oh and I'd make a guess that the viewers know its edited especially as its the card the housemates always drag up if something hasn't been edited in their favour. But I don't know about you but I'd rather watch 46 minutes of scripted, edited and biased highlights if they're entertaining rather than being bored stiff watching someone cook pasta whilst bird noise plays in the background.

[Scarlett.]

I put it on when I wanted to sleep....yeah thats how boring live feed was

I watched it properly very occasionally

[BIG-BRO-FAN]

I thought the whole purpose of BB was to follow housemates living their lives and watching their EVERY move. This is 2009 we're living in, those 'live feed' facilities should be their day and night.

[Scarlett.]

Originally posted by BIG-BRO-FAN
I thought the whole purpose of BB was to follow housemates living their lives and watching their EVERY move. This is 2009 we're living in, those 'live feed' facilities should be their day and night. You're right, we are in 2009, but you seem to have forgetten, RECESSION :spin2:

Cutbacks have to be made, and live feed was the cutback made

[Tom]

Originally posted by BIG-BRO-FAN
I thought the whole purpose of BB was to follow housemates living their lives and watching their EVERY move. This is 2009 we're living in, those 'live feed' facilities should be their day and night.

Was.

In 2000 when it started it was a social experiment with the novelty of the show to watch it when you wanted and stayed like that until BB5. Since BB5 it has been predominantly an entertainment show and streaming has been stripped away bit by bit to reflect that.

Its just an evolution of the show more than anything. Viewers will get over it after a week or so if they genuinely like BB that much.

[matty0boy]

i usually just watch it late at night when there's nothin on the tele ......or at dinner time when am bored of daytime television

[Stentionhouse]

Originally posted by Chewy
Originally posted by BIG-BRO-FAN
I thought the whole purpose of BB was to follow housemates living their lives and watching their EVERY move. This is 2009 we're living in, those 'live feed' facilities should be their day and night. You're right, we are in 2009, but you seem to have forgetten, RECESSION :spin2:

Cutbacks have to be made, and live feed was the cutback made

If they can't afford to make the show, they should cut their losses and pay up the remainder of the contract.

It's pretty obvious that cost is just an excuse.

[Stentionhouse]

Originally posted by Tom
Originally posted by BIG-BRO-FAN
I thought the whole purpose of BB was to follow housemates living their lives and watching their EVERY move. This is 2009 we're living in, those 'live feed' facilities should be their day and night.

Was.

In 2000 when it started it was a social experiment with the novelty of the show to watch it when you wanted and stayed like that until BB5. Since BB5 it has been predominantly an entertainment show and streaming has been stripped away bit by bit to reflect that.

Its just an evolution of the show more than anything. Viewers will get over it after a week or so if they genuinely like BB that much.

So why does every other country in the world - even those on their tenth and eleventh main series - still have the 24/7 live feed? Constant surveillance is the entire reason for BB's existence. BB isn't a talent show or a soap opera. But that's what it has become.

[Stentionhouse]

Oops, made a hash of that :shrug::tongue:

[Tom]

Originally posted by Stentionhouse
Originally posted by Tom
Originally posted by BIG-BRO-FAN
I thought the whole purpose of BB was to follow housemates living their lives and watching their EVERY move. This is 2009 we're living in, those 'live feed' facilities should be their day and night.

Was.

In 2000 when it started it was a social experiment with the novelty of the show to watch it when you wanted and stayed like that until BB5. Since BB5 it has been predominantly an entertainment show and streaming has been stripped away bit by bit to reflect that.

Its just an evolution of the show more than anything. Viewers will get over it after a week or so if they genuinely like BB that much.

So why does every other country in the world - even those on their tenth and eleventh main series - still have the 24/7 live feed? Constant surveillance is the entire reason for BB's existence. BB isn't a talent show or a soap opera. But that's what it has become.

BBUK has done the most series' of BB in the world and clearly UK viewers watch it in different ways. If it doesn't have a major impact on BB10 (which I really doubt it will) then I can see other countries following suit.

[BIG-BRO-FAN]

The live feed is still being shown overnight, right? Better than nothing I say.

[Brekkie]

Originally posted by Tom
Most viewers who call themselves fans probably won't go any further than the Channel 4 website when looking online. Forum members are in a huge minority when it comes to BB.

So as you post on a forum you can't call yourself a fan?

BB was one of the first shows to establish an online fanbase- and ignoring that fanbase is just stupid. The majority of viewers now have access to the web, and even if they venture no further than the official site, there experience of BB will be affected with no live feed - because with no live feed, there's no need to update the official site. They didn't really bother too much in January.


Originally posted by Tom
Its inevitable that the ratings are going to be lower than they've ever been, its just a common trend because BB is dying because people are losing interest. The live feed isn't the solution as BB10 will be the 17th series of Big Brother and hardly any shows make it that far. The sad truth is it has run its course. Its time to accept that. BB can never be restored.

I don't dispute over time interest wanes, and every show has a natural timespan, but for any other show they do whatever is possible to extend that timespan.

If it works, the show can survive a few extra years - many years in some cases, but if it doesn't, they really haven't lost much as the show was on it's way out anyway.

The problem is C4 aren't even trying.


Spain, Italy, Brazil and the USA have all been running for about as long as us (nine or ten regular series, but generally longer than most BBUK series, so equalling out the effect of Celeb BB etc.) - and they've all seen ratings rise for their latest series.

The US and to a certain extent Italy went back to basics, Spain did their "GH1" house twist for the tenth season - which was a relatively simple twist, while Brazil arguably put in the most effort with a Rich/Poor divide (just for a week or so though) and notably the House of Glass - but still relatively simple twists.

[Tom]

Originally posted by Brekkie

So as you post on a forum you can't call yourself a fan?

BB was one of the first shows to establish an online fanbase- and ignoring that fanbase is just stupid. The majority of viewers now have access to the web, and even if they venture no further than the official site, there experience of BB will be affected with no live feed - because with no live feed, there's no need to update the official site. They didn't really bother too much in January.

I didn't say about not being able to call yourself a fan if you post on a forum? :puzzled: I just meant a lot of people who don't post on the forum but watch BB will call themselves BB fans.

I think we should wait and see what they do in the summer over the website. Because its the main series (and possibly the most pivotal series of all so far, I know it gets said all the time but this one genuinely is make or break) they might take it a little more seriously and update it.

Originally posted by Brekkie

I don't dispute over time interest wanes, and every show has a natural timespan, but for any other show they do whatever is possible to extend that timespan.

If it works, the show can survive a few extra years - many years in some cases, but if it doesn't, they really haven't lost much as the show was on it's way out anyway.

The problem is C4 aren't even trying.


Spain, Italy, Brazil and the USA have all been running for about as long as us (nine or ten regular series, but generally longer than most BBUK series, so equalling out the effect of Celeb BB etc.) - and they've all seen ratings rise for their latest series.

The US and to a certain extent Italy went back to basics, Spain did their "GH1" house twist for the tenth season - which was a relatively simple twist, while Brazil arguably put in the most effort with a Rich/Poor divide (just for a week or so though) and notably the House of Glass - but still relatively simple twists.

You can't really say they're not trying anything. Last year they tweaked the format to close to what us online fans thought would work and it didn't, maybe they didn't do it right. They developed it for CBB6. I don't know if they continued it though, I stopped watching properly around when Lucy was evicted. But theres nothing to say they aren't trying anything new this year, quite the opposite in fact with some of the things in the papers and the new tag line. I think we need to see how it pans out before saying things like that.

As bizarre as it sounds, no live feed could maybe tie in with a "new" BB? I think we'll just have to wait and see what they do

[Brekkie]

Originally posted by Tom
I didn't say about not being able to call yourself a fan if you post on a forum? :puzzled: I just meant a lot of people who don't post on the forum but watch BB will call themselves BB fans.
The forum fans though are likely to be the ones who watched as much of BB as they could, so hence used the interactive fan.

The non-forum fan are probably more likely to just watch the main shows, but even so I'm sure many of those watch because they like the idea of watching a show where people can be watched 24/7, and even if they don't use the live feed themselves, an element of the show they enjoy has been removed.

Originally posted by Brekkie
You can't really say they're not trying anything. Last year they tweaked the format to close to what us online fans thought would work and it didn't, maybe they didn't do it right. They developed it for CBB6. I don't know if they continued it though, I stopped watching properly around when Lucy was evicted.

They really did not develop it for CBB6 at all. The made a big thing out of Head of House in the first week, got the HMs and the viewers all speculating about who would be the next HoH and how it would affect the show - and then decided not to bother!


I agree last year the producers did put more effort in, but they didn't get the support they needed from the channel. None of the big twists were ever promoted by C4, and even the live specials were lucky to get a promo on the day itself, while the scheduling of the flagship evictions did the show no favours - and hence the ratings fell. Indeed a good chunk of the 300,000 fall can be put down to the 1m+ lost each week for the eviction show.


I know Heaven and Hell and HoH really splits opinion amongst the fans, but for me starting it around week 6 IIRC was just far too late - the show needed that change much earlier (arguably from the start), and 4 weeks in the middle with Heaven and Hell didn't cut it. I am glad though HoH continued through to the end of the series.

My one criticism was that after a couple of weeks of the HoH deciding who lives in heaven and hell, which really did shake things up in the house, they took that power away from the HoH and left it up to the outcome of the tasks - which although it may have been fairer, it removed a lot of the resentment felt by the HMs from Hell to the HoH and Heavenly HMs, and a lot of the deals which were being done by people trying to secure a place in heaven.

[Tom]

By developing it I just meant giving them their own room so if its back for BB10 we could see yet another evolution of it (perhaps the they choose one person to be up idea?) and the ratings for the second eviction were actually quite good. Overnights were awful but mainly because it cut to streaming and lost about 1m viewers, then had adverts whilst it was still meant to be on air. The officials are a lot better and were not far off the main show apart from the odd week, though I think this summer it could do with going out from 9-10.15pm

[Tom4784]

I agree with Tom.

[ozzycam]

I couldnt wait to get everyone packed off in the morning, so i could hog the telly to myself, and id still be watching when they came back home.......lol:laugh3: