CBS' popular long-running summer reality TV show Big Brother has added a slew of new viewing platforms for viewers who want to watch the addictive 24/7 live feeds that have become a mainstay of the show. After the current series debuts on June 22 with a special two-hour premiere episode, viewers will be able to access live streams from the house online via the show's dedicated Roku channel and on newly-added streaming platforms Chromecast, Fire TV and Apple TV.
Since the debut of Big Brother back in 2000, the live feeds have been one of the most important facets of the show to fans who can't get enough of the three episodes per week that air in primetime on CBS Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The streams allow viewers to peek in on the Big Brother house action in real-time, choosing from a selection of camera angles strategically positioned throughout the complex.
When the show first debuted, the live feeds were available for free, but starting with season 2, fans wishing to view the streams had to subscribe for a fee, which then allowed them to view the action via RealNetworks' now-defunct RealPlayer. Recently, the feeds were moved to the CBS official website, where fans are currently charged $5.99 per month for an "all access" pass that entitles them not only to the feeds, but to various other Big Brother-related material. That includes the ability to watch any of the episodes from Big Brother's 17 seasons on demand, as well as an exclusive After Show online series hosted by one of the show's most popular former houseguests, Jeff Schroeder.
Last year, CBS partnered with Roku to create a special dedicated Big Brother channel that could be viewed by users of the popular media player. The streams achieved record growth for the network, with viewership up by 30 percent from the prior year.
This year, CBS has announced that viewers can now watch the Big Brother "all access" action on most of Roku's largest streaming competitors as well, including Google Chromecast, Apple's Apple TV and Amazon's Fire TV.
All the action on the live feeds starts June 23 at 10 p.m., the day following the regular episode's premiere date, June 22, when Big Brother will debut with its first-ever two-hour-long super-sized premiere at 8 p.m. The live streams will then continue to be available 24/7 for the next 13 weeks of summer 2016.
