[Stu]

I think it would have reached a natural end point like it did anyway as a result of lower than usual ratings, only it wouldn't have had it's quality plummet as fast as a result of post shilpagate censorship.

It would not have run forever. You cannot compare it to The Real World in that regard because it's never had a summer griphold over an entire network of channels with near constant airtime and a very dominating presence.

I think even the people who - right as they are - complained that the ratings were still very good for a C4 show missed the point on that. It wasn't just ratings. It had the presence and treatment of a supershow and it stopped delivering supershow ratings.

[ILoveTRW]

Originally Posted by Stu

You cannot compare it to The Real World in that regard because it's never had a summer griphold over an entire network of channels with near constant airtime and a very dominating presence.

Back in the day The Real World would air almost 24hrs repeating the latest episode over and over again and often doing marathons of previous seasons. MTV, MTV2 & Vh1.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by ILoveTRW

Back in the day The Real World would air almost 24hrs repeating the latest episode over and over again and often doing marathons of previous seasons. MTV, MTV2 & Vh1.

It's a different monster. Notice I still called it a monster.

Big Brother used to get national attention not seen until The X-Factor a number of years later. It was comissioned for huge amounts. It was Channel 4 at one point in it's history. It also delivered a massive, massive audience share.

I'm sure The Real World delivers big too but what's it's audience share in America? With it's population of 300 million? And what format does the show take? Episodic Reality TV that can be watched again and again however you please? Big Brother works far, far less effectively like that. Real World repeats are much more plausible than Big Brother repeats based on the nature of the show alone.

No doubt arguing this is pointless but those who know ... know.

[ILoveTRW]

Originally Posted by Stu

It's a different monster. Notice I still called it a monster.

Big Brother used to get national attention not seen until The X-Factor a number of years later. It was comissioned for huge amounts. It was Channel 4 at one point in it's history. It also delivered a massive, massive audience share.

I'm sure The Real World delivers big too but what's it's audience share in America? With it's population of 300 million? And what format does the show take? Episodic Reality TV that can be watched again and again however you please? Big Brother works far, far less effectively like that. Real World repeats are much more plausible than Big Brother repeats based on the nature of the show alone.

No doubt arguing this is pointless but those who know ... know.

The Real World is definitely easier to repeat.

I think the British public are to blame for the downfall. For some reason they put part of the blame for Jade and Jo's actions on BB. Whereas on TRW much more racist things have been said and 100% of the blame goes on the housemate, for example in the very first season back in 1992 Kevin argued on the streets of New York with poor old Julie about how black people could not be racist and how he was going to kill her (I think he is now a member of congress lol).