Live Feed Axed - How to complain - Big Brother 10 News

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Live Feed Axed - How to complain

Let C4 have your fury

As Big Brother 10 prepares to launch, here are the details once again of how to complain to C4 about the axing of the live feed.

For those of you who may not be aware, Channel 4 has dramatically scaled back the live coverage of Big Brother this year, offering just 40 hours a week. This means Big Brother UK is now the only version in the world which does not offer a 24/7 live feed. Even Albania, one of the poorest countries in Europe, managed to offer 24/7 live streaming of it’s version of Big Brother.

In summary:

The 24/7 live feed via the red button has been axed. This follows the axing of the online live feed last year.
The remaining hours of live streaming in the afternoon on E4 have been axed.
Late-night streaming does remain, but it is pushed back to later in the evening and does not begin until after midnight most evenings.

Therefore most days there will only be around six hours of live streaming available from the house - all overnight, meaning at least half of it is likely to be predominantly the housemates sleeping.

As Big Brother fans we don’t think this is acceptable. Big Brother is a 24/7 concept, and without the 24/7 live feed, the concept is destined to fail.

So much more than just a 24/7 feed

Not only does the live feed enable people to watch the show around the clock, it generates it’s own stories which are posted on forums and websites across the internet, which in turn creates hype for the show and result in higher ratings for the evening show, and more traffic for the official website. This sort of fan-led action can not possibly be recreated by C4 drip-feeding information as it sees fit during the day.

As a consequence, not only are the ratings for the main show likely to decrease, but those of what remains of the live feed will also fall - and it’s likely that will then be the justification C4 need to axe what little remains of the live feed next year - and indeed for axing Big Brother itself.

E4 Live Feed Schedule (Weeks 1 & 2):

Thursday 4th June: 11.35pm-6.20am
Friday: 11.05pm-6.20am
Saturday: 11.05pm-6.10am
Sunday: 11.35pm-6.20am
Monday: 1.15am-6.20am
Tuesday: 12.15am-6.20am
Wednesday: 12.25am-6.20am
Thursday: 12.00am-6.20am
Friday: 12.15am-6.20am

Saturday 13th June: 12.05am-6.10am
Sunday: 1.15am-6.20am
Monday: 1.25am-6.20am
Tuesday: 11.55pm-6.25am
Wednesday: 12.05am-6.20am
Thursday: 12.00am-6.20am
Friday: 12.10am-6.15am

Nice Twist - Shame we can’t enjoy it!

Details of this years launch twist have now been leaked by C4. The housemates arriving tonight will have to earn their status through tasks over the first few days in order to access the main house. Tasks can take place at any time during the day - but viewers will not be able to watch them live unless they occur overnight - and fans won’t be able to discuss what is happening in the house.

Instead we’ll have to wait 24 hours for them to appear on the C4 show, or make do with a one-minute clip posted on the official site, if we’re lucky. And even then, we’ll only see the task itself - the build up and fall out will likely be skipped over, and indeed in some cases the entire task. Marcus will just tell us that so-and-so won access to the house in a task we’re not able to watch.

With all that in mind, it is crucial that if you feel disappointed that you will no longer have the option of dipping into Big Brother 24/7, it is crucial that you let C4 know how you feel, and contact them with your complaint.

To complain to Channel 4 about their decision to axe the 24/7 live feed, the daytime streaming on E4 and the late starts for the overnight feed, click here and fill out their contact form.

Written by Brekkie Posted on Day 1 at 8:00am

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42 comments

mayflower says: June 4, 2009 @ 8:12 am

i like the idea of no live feed and having to tune in to main programme to see. its just like it used to be

Steve’Lee says: June 4, 2009 @ 8:27 am

The link that you gave us to complain is not working at the moment!
Is BBSpy doing live website updates tonight?

Digital Sid says: June 4, 2009 @ 8:32 am

They don’t read e-mails sent via that, they skim them and send an automatic, generic response. You need to go higher up (Angela Jain or David Williams) to get a direct response.

Nic says: June 4, 2009 @ 8:36 am

oh seriously get over it!
nothings gonna change no matter how many whiney emails you send!

Brekkie says: June 4, 2009 @ 8:48 am

Seems to be a (rather convenient) problem with the C4 website at the moment.

mayflower - the main series has ALWAYS had a live feed in the past. Don’t under estimate the trickle effect. There may be only a couple of hundred thousand watching the live feed, but what they see and then discuss generates the hype which encourages people to watch the highlights.

Great tasks for example are best shown off live - an article on the website is never going to generate the same buzz.

Digital Sid - may be a generic response, but more than I got from Angela or David - not even an acknowledgement. Also for your complaint to be officially registered, it needs to go through the official channels. I would recommend everybody replies to the generic response asking them to expand on their answers.

Nic - we won’t get over it. C4 need to know however stubborn they are, we still believe they’re making a huge mistake. Also this article is aimed more at the people returning to BB now who probably are not aware the live feed has been axed - and to highlight how it’ll affect the launch twist. I wasn’t spectacularly sold on the launch twist yesterday, but now I’m thinking it’s the best opening twist the producers have done since BB6 - yet their efforts is being completely hampered by C4’s attitude.

And as much as we won’t get over it, we’re posting the details now so we can concentrate on other things over the weekend.

Brekkie says: June 4, 2009 @ 9:05 am

Complaint form now working again.

Oh, and Steve, fingers crossed there should be live updates tonight.

Steve’Lee says: June 4, 2009 @ 9:24 am

Brekkie, are you planning to bring out the new site today? Is their a new site or is this it lol?
And also, whats fingers crossed?? I hope their is!

Digital Sid says: June 4, 2009 @ 9:40 am

Brekkie by generic I mean pre-written, the same thing sent to everyone, not one word you’ve said read or taken in. We’ve been complaining to ofcom about it on DS.

Digital Sid says: June 4, 2009 @ 9:43 am

I’ve tried replying to the default reply before, I just get another or an apology for “how you feel” about it. Seriously though, I can’t see us getting it back without going to Endemol Netherlands with a petition of complaint about Channel 4’s treatment of the UK version.

Brekkie says: June 4, 2009 @ 9:51 am

I do wonder what John de Mol thinks of it all. If he was dead, he’d be spinning in his grave.

Steve - new site should be up later today, sponsored by lastminute.com

Another thing, but the basis of this first twist is they sleep in the one room, get cold porridge and no showers. Without a live feed, how do we know they’re not let into a comfy bedroom, get giving decent food and access to hot showers during the day?

Liam says: June 4, 2009 @ 10:11 am

Where is the link?

Steve’Lee says: June 4, 2009 @ 10:25 am

HaHa Brekkie, for a minuite I thought you were being serious about the sponsor thing… Then I realised lol!

Brekkie says: June 4, 2009 @ 10:49 am

Link is in the yellow box - or click here:
http://help.channel4.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE/,/?St=20,E=0000000000180174359,K=7213,Sxi=0,USETEMPLATE=contact_ve.tem

BB10RIP says: June 4, 2009 @ 1:03 pm

Afternoon CH4 Trolls on here trying to play down the significance of No 24/7 LF. As far as it been like it used to be with no daytime Live feed this is the ONLY UK BB Summer series to not have any coverage in the day so get your facts right is my suggestion .

BB10RIP says: June 4, 2009 @ 1:04 pm

BOYCOTT OFFICIAL BB WEBSITE !

BB10RIP says: June 4, 2009 @ 1:14 pm

Also CH4 Trolls get over the fact we will Keep putting out complaints about the lack of LF coverage wether you like it or not LOL

john says: June 4, 2009 @ 2:14 pm

this is the e-mail sent back from channel 4:
Dear John,

Thank you for your e-mail querying the availability of the red button
interactivity on this year’s BIG BROTHER.

The red button 24-hour streaming facility was discontinued prior to the last
series of CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER and we have no plans to reintroduce this
service for the current edition of BIG BROTHER.

The main reason behind this decision is that we?ve found the number of
viewers choosing to use the red button facility has dropped significantly
and more and more viewers chose to watch the clips provided on the official
BIG BROTHER and other websites. So we have shifted our resources to cover
these areas and have new fanzones, on Twitter and Facebook as well as our
own site, and we?ll also be working extensively with partners such as Bebo,
Youtube and MSN to deliver footage to BIG BROTHER fans to keep them fully up
to date with what?s happening in the house.

However, live streaming will be available on both E4 and Channel 4 late
night/early morning and we will be showing all the other great shows that
make up the BIG BROTHER experience, like BIG BROTHER’S LITTLE BROTHER AND
BIG BROTHER’S BIG MOUTH.

Please be assured that your complaint has been logged and distributed
throughout Channe 4 for the attention of the programme makers.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us.

Regards,

Jessicka Burton
Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries

BB10RIP says: June 4, 2009 @ 2:24 pm

Got laugh how the generic Mail C4 is sending out has reverted to the claim that the AD FILLED and NAFF 30 second clips on the official BB website are preferred to live streaming 24/7. Yes of course …..NOT LOL

Shows they are desparate to drive people over to theit PATHETIC website anyway they can. So more than ever if you dont like the drastic Live feed cuts on C4/E4, Removal of Sky red Button, Bullying on Youtube over BB UK Clips and removal of CH4 etc etc then …

BOYCOTT THE OFFICIAL CH4 BB WEBSITE !

Alec Mills says: June 4, 2009 @ 2:45 pm

Why is C$ bothering to produce a programme they don’t want people to watch. without the live feed BB10 is dead. (or, is that what their after? could then can claim no one is watching, so excuse to axe it!)

pinkie says: June 4, 2009 @ 3:05 pm

can’t understand why no red button. Big brother is a 24/7 fly on the wall reality program. But it isnt know more. C4 should listen to the public and give us our red button. It seems bb10 wil be wicked, but we cant watch much of it. How come we are the only bb now without constant live feed.

Alec says: June 4, 2009 @ 3:07 pm

Hey Alec - Cool name

I think they are only producing it as they have already paid for the contract.

How much do people bet that if C4 had to pay every year for a one year contract, that we would not be getting BB10 or BB11?

andy says: June 4, 2009 @ 5:11 pm

I see two sides to this.
Side A, removing the live feed will stop the media getting hold of ’spoilers’ before they are aired - meaning more people will be watching it rather than reading it. ALSO no live feed may equal more primetime people turning in.
Side B, big brother is trying to kill the show. They are starting to tie down all the lose ends so as there wont be to many people complaining about the axe next year.
Personally I would like to see the live feed back but I can live without it.

Dan! says: June 4, 2009 @ 5:17 pm

Maybe between shows the housemates might call thier family on the phone and tell them about the scripts.

Brekkie says: June 4, 2009 @ 5:23 pm

Andy - it’s already been proved with Celeb BB and the reaction to the news already that no live feed won’t increase ratings.

And C4 have got no right to complain about “spoilers” when they’ve leaked the entire launch show twist in advance.

Anthony says: June 4, 2009 @ 5:53 pm

I already complained about the live feed back in early May to channel 4 next day I got a response saying they have no plans to bring back the live feed via the red button service for BB10

I also pointed out to them in my Email that they could of at least kept some live streaming on E4 during the afternoons like they used to but they declined to answer that question

I think this time it is make or break for BB this year and to be honest they haven`t really tried considering its the 10th birthday

I just hope it`ll turn out to be decent
But I know for a fact a few weeks in and the viewers will drop just as they did for cbb in january

I`ll be watching tonight tho it won`t be quite the same

andy says: June 4, 2009 @ 6:23 pm

Brekkie
When I say spoilers I mean when you log onto digital spy, the sun or even this website and you read that a housemate has walked out; and they have a in-detail report about what happened then watching that acutaly epsoide wont be as important to me. And I know other people feel like this.
Take for example I knew of the incident with Kinga and the winebottle from the Sun before it was aried as well as Alex from bb9 being ejected as well as many other housemates being ejected in various series.

Jonny says: June 4, 2009 @ 6:40 pm

I just hope we get a ‘next time’ clip at the end of each episode to encourage us to tune in the next day since we wont have the internet or tabloids giving us a reason to do so.

Andy says: June 4, 2009 @ 6:51 pm

ok guys the live feed is NOT coming back….shall we move on now?

Its only 2hours until the start of BB10 yay!

Alec says: June 4, 2009 @ 7:22 pm

Matt, the site’s new header image is looking good (Y)

(the new bbspy is going to rock!)

Steve’Lee says: June 4, 2009 @ 7:33 pm

Alec, what you on about? lol

BB Fan says: June 4, 2009 @ 7:56 pm

Stop advertising [MOD EDIT - name removed]. Your website is shit anyway. The spelling and grammar is awful.

So unprofessional.

Brekkie says: June 4, 2009 @ 8:17 pm

Andy - in the past ratings usually rise when a HM walks, and the nature of the show has always meant you knew the day before.

Steve’Lee says: June 4, 2009 @ 8:36 pm

BB Fan, who were you talking to? I do not own a fan site!

Brekkie says: June 4, 2009 @ 8:41 pm

A couple of posts have been removed Steve’Lee.

Brekkie says: June 4, 2009 @ 10:59 pm

When I wrote this article to be posted here I ended it with “Big Brother RIP”, but then removed the line thinking I might be over-reacting somewhat.

Well, having struggled through the launch show now, I’m grieving for the show I used to love.

BB10RIP says: June 5, 2009 @ 12:27 am

BB10 RIP. Launch show was the Biggest Pile of steaming dung Ive ever seen.

Brekkie says: June 5, 2009 @ 1:25 pm

News just in - the axing of the BB live streaming attracted the most number of complaints to C4 in May, 99 in total, on top of the 22 received in April. That’s 121 so far, and I imagine their e-mail boxes will be clogged up today when the non-fansite visiting BB fans realise how stupid C4 have been.

BB10RIP says: June 5, 2009 @ 3:43 pm

Brekkie,
plus we know the complaints were far far higher than that in May over axing 24/7 live streaming. Some very interesting ‘Creative Accountancy’ has gone on over those complaints IMHO.

Will love to figures for June LOL

Dave says: June 6, 2009 @ 10:29 am

Not watching BB this year as no live feed.

joanne says: June 7, 2009 @ 12:05 am

JUST MADE MY COMPLAINT NT THAT I THINK IT WILL MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE BUT HERES HOPEING

Brekkie says: June 7, 2009 @ 12:27 am

Well it’s all about trying. If C4 refuse to budge at least we know we’ve done everything we possibly can.

Kathy Hyre says: July 29, 2009 @ 1:34 am

I am very upset, I pay the fee to watch 24/7 live feed, this is my third year, well the houseguests sleep all day then some go to bed early except when they are taping a live show. In this day and time with hard times it’s better to spend my money elsewhere. I don’t really expect an answer but I had to vent

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