[Stu]

The live feed is not a mere gimmick but in fact the big marketable touchstone the show was originally designed around. Without it Big Brother is just another television show. With it it's something that sets the format apart from the cesspit of other reality shows clamouring for press and public attention.

From a business standpoint it is incredibly easy to maintain a live stream and I seriously doubt it is that expensive. It's certainly far less costly than the irreparable damage it's omission could cause to the show. The fans want live feed and by not giving it to them Channel 5 are like it or not - regardless of whatever pissant compromises they conjure up - kind of sticking up the middle finger at the most important people to the show.

You simply don't piss off your hardcore fanbase. You don't do it with TV shows, video games, film or any other form of modern entertainment. It's a dangerous thing to wade into and usually spells disaster.

I don't see the show as being entirely worthless without the feed - 2009 was my favourite series of it ever - but the simple fact is railing against it or dismissing it isin't cool or smart. It would be a major loss to the show and would set a very bad precedent for what's to come.

As if fans had not already been highly paranoid of what Channel 5 would do with the format this lame ass decision just vindicates those endless 'Channel 5 will fuck it up' arguments.