Virgin TV have become the latest broadcaster to rule out taking over the Big Brother contract from 2011 following C4’s decision to axe the series.
Claudia Rosencrantz, director of television at Virgin, praised the show, saying “Big Brother stands as the most transformational show in the history of entertainment. It changed the way every single entertainment producer viewed the possibilities of how we produced entertainment. It changed viewer’s appetites and desire for how they wanted to view television and it changed broadcasters’ understanding of how television programmes can be viewed in a linear and a non-linear way.”
However, according to Broadcast she confirmed Virgin were not going to buy it, as they were looking for “new hits”, with Dating in the Dark, a show from Big Brother creator John de Mol, one of the companies forthcoming highlights.
The announcement from Virgin, who sponsored BB8 and BB9, effectively kills off any chance of Big Brother returning to TV screens following the end of the C4 contract next year. The other main players in commercial television - ITV, Five and Sky - were also quick to rule out taking over Big Brother, whilst the show is considered too much of a political risk to interest the BBC.
UKTV, the only other likely contender to rehouse Big Brother, have not commented on their position so far. However as they are co-owned by the BBC and Virgin, with C4 possible future partners, it would be highly unlikely that they would consider taking on the series.
Therefore, it looks almost certain the end of Big Brother on C4 will mean the end of Big Brother in the UK - for now, at least!
stick with bbspy!
