[MB.]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

So people would've been buzzing over Aaron's ejection

Ooh matron.

[Marsh.]

Big Brother Canada has an advantage of being 2 years old.

It's kind of like wondering why the same pair of beautiful high heels work on a young model but not on a rusty pensioner. One is in its prime, the other has had its day.

Unfortunately, BBUk has had its day.

[Beetlejuice]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Big Brother Canada has an advantage of being 2 years old.

It's kind of like wondering why the same pair of beautiful high heels work on a young model but not on a rusty pensioner. One is in its prime, the other has had its day.

Unfortunately, BBUk has had its day.

BBUK hasn't existed in 5 years. What we have is a Frankenstein's Monster version of BB which has left even the biggest fans fed up and disappointed. The only option they have left is to return to a tried and tested format and to publicize that return well next year. Select good housemates and give people a means to actually get to know them properly so that it is being spoken about through the day and night on the forums and now on twitter.

That is the only option it has.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Beetlejuice

BBUK hasn't existed in 5 years. What we have is a Frankenstein's Monster version of BB which has left even the biggest fans fed up and disappointed. The only option they have left is to return to a tried and tested format and to publicize that return well next year. Select good housemates and give people a means to actually get to know them properly so that it is being spoken about through the day and night on the forums and now on twitter.

That is the only option it has.

All shows have a shelf life. The BB 5+ years ago was losing viewers too as the franchise got older.

[Beetlejuice]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

All shows have a shelf life. The BB 5+ years ago was losing viewers too as the franchise got older.

And Channel 5 had a chance of reviving it by taking that format and adding to it. Instead, they turned their back on it entirely and put their fingers in their ears to how unpopular a decision it was with the fans. You can't do that with an interactive show that lives or dies on viewer involvement.

[Marsh.]

Yes, the interview is backing up what I said.

Phil Edgar Jones wasn't in charge of live feed or any other commissions as part of the Big Brother franchise. His job was to manage and produce what he was given by channel 4/endemol.

The only reason it was stopped was for practical reasons. I think Channel 4 have done a brilliant thing in bringing it back and repaying all the fans from down the years.

Stopped for practical reasons = financial/low figures

Repaying all the fans down the years = brought back to celebrate the show coming to an end after 10 years

Yes, PEJ points out all of the reasons live feed is so valuable. Does that mean he was in charge of it? No. Did that make it financially viable? No. Did that bring in viewers? No.

If live feed guaranteed an audience then there would've been no need to axe it to begin with. It's just over the 4 years of its life on channel 5, they've taken advantage of no live feed to manipulate the show to death. But it's not going to pluck a live feed audience out of thin air.

[Beetlejuice]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Yes, the interview is backing up what I said.

Phil Edgar Jones wasn't in charge of live feed or any other commissions as part of the Big Brother franchise. His job was to manage and produce what he was given by channel 4/endemol.

I didn't say he was in charge of it. But he was certainly someone who felt the show needed it.

Stopped for practical reasons = financial/low figures

It could mean anything frankly. Channel 4 wanted rid of BB that series (BB10). It announced it being axed that series. It had clearly had enough. That series was awful frankly, regardless of some of the housemates being good.

Yes, PEJ points out all of the reasons live feed is so valuable. Does that mean he was in charge of it? No. Did that make it financially viable? No. Did that bring in viewers? No.

The viewing figures were up for BB11. I know you'll say that was because it was the last series and maybe you're right, but the fact remains the lowest rated series of BB on Channel 4 was BB10, the highest rated series of BB on Channel 5 was BB14. So the series with reduced live coverage was the worst rating ever on Channel 4. And the series with extra live coverage was the best rating ever on Channel 5.

Again, the show is in dire straits, and they have to do something with it. To continue using a format that is destroying the show is lunacy, and the only other option they have is a return to a format the fans of the show have been asking for, for 5 years. They could actually earn some good will for themselves by doing that. To run the show in the ground as they are doing however will ultimately lead to the collapse of the whole franchise in my view.

Some of you would rather they just axe the show than return to that original format for one series for some reason I cannot even begin to fathom.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Beetlejuice

I didn't say he was in charge of it. But he was certainly someone who felt the show needed it.



It could mean anything frankly. Channel 4 wanted rid of BB that series (BB10). It announced it being axed that series. It had clearly had enough. That series was awful frankly, regardless of some of the housemates being good.



The viewing figures were up for BB11. I know you'll say that was because it was the last series and maybe you're right, but the fact remains the lowest rated series of BB on Channel 4 was BB10, the highest rated series of BB on Channel 5 was BB14. So the series with reduced live coverage was the worst rating ever on Channel 4. And the series with extra live coverage was the best rating ever on Channel 5.

Again, the show is in dire straits, and they have to do something with it. To continue using a format that is destroying the show is lunacy, and the only other option they have is a return to a format the fans of the show have been asking for, for 5 years. They could actually earn some good will for themselves by doing that. To run the show in the ground as they are doing however will ultimately lead to the collapse of the whole franchise in my view.

Some of you would rather they just axe the show than return to that original format for one series for some reason I cannot even begin to fathom.

But BB10 having the lowest is what lead to its axe. BB10 followed a pattern from BB8. Dwindling down. It was just no longer what it was after 2007.

You can say BB10 (no feed) = least popular BB14 (some feed) = most popular but there's nothing suggesting feed had anything to do with either considering BB8 and 9 didn't do too much better than 10 and the live feed for 14 had next to no viewers hence the reason it too was axed. Not to mention the worst on channel 4 and the best rated on channel 5 are still separated by a wide margin. Therefore the problem is over and above live feed.

The feed was axed because it no longer attracted viewers.

I don't want to axe the entire show instead of trying a back to basics approach. But after nearly 5 years I'm tired of waiting for them to do so. If they're not then bye bye BB.

[Beetlejuice]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

But BB10 having the lowest is what lead to its axe.

Everything about that series looked awful from the opening night. The decision to reduce the live coverage was just a precursor to the show being axed imo.

BB10 followed a pattern from BB8. Dwindling down. It was just no longer what it was after 2007.

The drop was huge though and I believe Channel 4 knew they wanted rid of the show before BB10 even started.

You can say BB10 (no feed) = least popular BB14 (some feed) = most popular but there's nothing suggesting feed had anything to do with either considering BB8 and 9 didn't do too much better than 10 and the live feed for 14 had next to no viewers hence the reason it too was axed.

The live feed that got no viewers and was therefore axed was the 7 pm live coverage on Channel 5. Everyone knew it would do poorly in that slot.

No one has any idea how many people watched the coverage at midnight. And BB8 and BB9 both did considerably better than BB10 even if the show clearly was in decline at that point.

You say there's nothing suggesting the feed had anything to do with BB14's success but it is another fact that the ratings for BB14 went up and stayed up after its re-introduction in week 4.

Not to mention the worst on channel 4 and the best rated on channel 5 are still separated by a wide margin. Therefore the problem is over and above live feed.

There are many problems, and no one expects Channel 5 to get higher ratings than Channel 4 did with the show. But the fact is fans are disillusioned with the show. When even the hardcore fans are giving up, and are repeatedly claiming things like the lack of the live coverage being part of the reason why, you can't stick your fingers in your ears the way these people have been doing for 5 years without thinking that's going cause trouble. It has eventually led to this.

The feed was axed because it no longer attracted viewers.

I don't want to axe the entire show instead of trying a back to basics approach. But after nearly 5 years I'm tired of waiting for them to do so. If they're not then bye bye BB.

The feed should be the first thing you see when you go to the website. A website with all sorts of interactive features and regular updates to go with it, including a diary room feed for live nominations. If anything interesting kicks off people will know about it from watching the feed and twitter users will then go to the site along with DS users who aren't already watching to find out what's going on. Before you know it BB starts being tweeted about a lot more throughout the day and thread after thread is being made on the forums.

The feed could actually help the site get a lot more visits throughout the day. Have some advertising in the feed and that can help with the costs as well.

[Rob!]

The simple and undeniable fact is that civilian Big Brother is a cult show and has been for several years now. The fans that turned their back on it due to the lack of live feed have long gone and they are never coming back - even if a 24/7 live feed was brought back, they ain't going to be there to watch it.
Channel 5 have never pretended that they wanted the same show that channel 4 had. BB12's 18-30 cast, the fact they were ALL good looking, the fact that they focussed SO heavily on the romance aspect and the sheer feel of the series was enough to tell us that. Then they got lucky with Celeb BB. They had a couple of good series where the housemates provided their own far more interesting storylines and they grew on that. They also figured and realised that ratings grew when the tension did, and so twists were thrown in with care free abandon to make the housemates argue as much as possible. These days, there isn't even any subtlety behind it. Face to face noms are now more frequent than regular noms (this series alone has not had a single round of normal nominations), everything is big and in your face and any attempt to appease the hardcore fans they've managed to piss off is met with disdain because it is too little too late. They stopped listening a long LONG time ago. I don't believe they work deliberately to piss the viewers off, Big Brother is by far Channel 5's most expensive programme and it isn't in their interest to lose viewers by stupid stunts. They want to try and make the programme interesting, but the problem is that the tasks, twists and even in a lot of cases the housemates give each series of regular BB the same old feel. Nothing really feels that individual about it anymore. And whilst the celeb series continues to go from strength to strength (in January anyway. Time will tell how this summers performs), the civilian series limps along behind it, a victim of it's own success. The aspects of it that made is so huge in the early days are now negatives and it's safe to say, it's on it's last legs. I hope it can make it to the end of the new contract with it's head held as high as it can manage.
The viewers have the choice whether to hold their hands up and say "sorry, I'm not interested anymore" or try and enjoy it for what it is. I'm going to be here till it's dying day and so it seems will about a million other people. Nothing is keeping the viewers that watch it everyday but have nothing good to say about it watching other than their own sense of completion and, admittedly, the hope that things will improve.

[Marsh.]

the fact they were ALL good looking

I find BB12 one of the ugliest casts in the show's history.

[Rob!]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

I find BB12 one of the ugliest casts in the show's history.

Each to their own, but there weren't any Jacks were there

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Rob!

Each to their own, but there weren't any Jacks were there

If "not fat" = attractive we'd all have a happy ending.

[Rob!]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

If "not fat" = attractive we'd all have a happy ending.

You get what I'm trying to say though.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Rob!

You get what I'm trying to say though.

Kind of.

[Rob!]

I'd also like to add onto that the show does still have relevance. Social media was thriving after Aaron's ejection because the show does still have the power to create debate like no other (or very few) shows on television. Social issues are still at the core of BB, underneath all the glittery lights and thundering dramatic music. The problem is that the show doesn't feel like that's enough any more and maybe it isn't.

[CertifiedPoster]

C5 has ruined it tbh

I mean you get some enjoyable episodes still, but the last few years it has been made a chore to watch. Last year's series was terrible, and tbh this has been just as bad if not worse. The year before that wasn't that great either but at least had some pretty great housemates like Dexter, Callum and Gina. But overall most of the housemates they pick are just plain sh1t, the tasks/twists are also very very poor. No excitement, creativity or thought is put into anything now.

Someone raised a good point the other day, Brian Belo has come into the house and immediately stood out as probably the best character this year (or close to it), and he was one of the worst in his series..

To answer the OP's question yeah it probably should be scrapped now. Its regressing all the time

[Rob!]

People also seem to forget that BB12 and 13 had barely any twists. BB14, the most popular series on C5 thus far was the start of the much more twisted format. Unfortunately it was just a format that got old exceptionally quickly.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Rob!

People also seem to forget that BB12 and 13 had barely any twists. BB14, the most popular series on C5 thus far was the start of the much more twisted format. Unfortunately it was just a format that got old exceptionally quickly.

I honestly think it's better rated because it was the first overhaul since it started on channel 5, Emma Willis' popularity had grown on TV and she was taking over from Brian, the casting was quite good and held onto a launch night boost for a while but the rot set in with the production.

The producers took the wrong lessons from BB14.

But even then, BB14 being the highest rated isn't even a big statement because the difference is so tiny.

[Beetlejuice]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

I honestly think it's better rated because it was the first overhaul since it started on channel 5, Emma Willis' popularity had grown on TV and she was taking over from Brian, the casting was quite good and held onto a launch night boost for a while but the rot set in with the production.

The producers took the wrong lessons from BB14.

But even then, BB14 being the highest rated isn't even a big statement because the difference is so tiny.

Well, week 2 and 3 of BB14 had an average of 1.69 million. Week 4 grew to 1.75 million and week 5 to 1.87 million and it did pretty well in maintaining more than 1.8 for the rest of the show.

The series average when +1 is taken into account is supposed to be 1.9 million. When you consider where the show is at now just two year laters, that's a pretty big drop in percentage terms

[Rob!]

True. Especially as at the time it was the lowest launch of any BB...and also the fact that a large part of the reason it got such a high overall rating as a series was because of a man pinning a girl down to a bed by her throat and threatened to nut her. British people are odd.

[Rob!]

Channel 4 wanted rid of the show a long time before BB10. The guy in charge at the time wanted rid of it after the race row but I think after the success of BB7, they signed a new contract so they were stuck with it.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Rob!

Channel 4 wanted rid of the show a long time before BB10. The guy in charge at the time wanted rid of it after the race row but I think after the success of BB7, they signed a new contract so they were stuck with it.

Yes but that's also because the public's perception of it changed after that.

Would they have axed live feed if it got viewers and raked in the cash? No.
Would the main show have been axed at all if they kept up the top figures? No.

But, also, everything has a shelf life and I feel C4 were right to axe it. 10 years is a long time for any format.

[abhorson]

The CBB bed wetter, spooning, cheap GS show winner. With the average demographic of BB, i could understand. But, when Helen won last year! A big fat NO.

Time to end it.

[Marsh.]

The live feed that got no viewers and was therefore axed was the 7 pm live coverage on Channel 5.

And the feeds throughout 8 and 9 which dropped just as the main shows did. Then the online coverage for BB14 which was dropped after the series ended because.... you guessed it, lack of viewers.

You say there's nothing suggesting the feed had anything to do with BB14's success but it is another fact that the ratings for BB14 went up and stayed up after its re-introduction in week 4.

Did it rise significantly or was it hovering around the same marks as before and floating up and down? Wiki tells me the latter.

Did the live feed attract viewers other than the hardcore, forum browsing variety? The producer's response and subsequent axing of it tells me no.

So did the viewing figures rise and stay at 1.8 in the last couple of weeks because of live feed or because of the Hazel/Daley drama and the subsequent bitchfests with Gina?

including a diary room feed for live nominations.

Who needs that when they can simply nominate in front of one another or not nominate at all and let the producers do the choosing?