Big Brother 15 will arrive even sooner, says CBS as they announce a slew of ways, new and old, for fans to enjoy the 2013 summer season when the premiere kicks off one hour earlier on June 26th. CBS offered up an early preview of their online, mobile, social media, and on-air multiplatform approach to the new season.
Big Brother 15 Expands Online & Mobile Offerings
Driven by last year’s “558 percent increase in social conversation over the previous season” CBS is looking to expand its online experience along with noteworthy changes to its broadcast and mobile approaches. Having launched the Big Brother Live Feeds preseason sale earlier this week, CBS has also revealed users can watch full episodes of the series via the official iOS app. Both iOS and Android mobile devices can access the mobile Live Feeds separately without the app.
Also online will be weekly live chats with fan favorite Jeff Schroeder. Each Friday he’ll be taking questions direct from viewers to interview evicted HouseGuests and “series experts.” Hmm, I wonder who they’ll get to fill that role? Past seasons’ HGs?
“Big Brother Memorable Moments,” a new web mini-series this summer, will feature highlights from the past fourteen seasons of CBS’s reality show.
Big Brother Embraces Social Media
Turning to social media, CBS has created a new social hub for Season 15 with “Big Brother Connect.” The site aggregates online discussions of the show from Facebook and Twitter although during our review we found it casting a wide net and including a political arena “big brother” instead. We’re guessing they’ll look for a way to narrow that focus to just the entertainment side of things by go time.
CBS will also be bringing back its “Flock to Unlock” for photos from inside the house using Twitter but with a new twist. This year “the BIG BROTHER house will also feature a photo booth where House Guests will take exclusive photos to share with fans” on CBS’s Big Brother 15 website. A photo booth? Well that’s cool, but we hope they’re not reusing Howie’s “shack” for that.
Big Brother’s 15th Season On-Air:
Shifting back to Big Brother’s core venue, television, the series has moved up its Wednesday, June 26th premiere to 8PM ET/PT where it’ll remain each week. Sunday’s episodes will continue to air at 8PM ET/PT while Tuesday broadcasts at 9PM ET/PT. Yes, that’s a new set of nights for the summer with Thursday’s eviction shows now a thing of the past.
Big Brother After Dark is getting its own revamp this year as well when the late-night series moves from Showtime’s “SHO2” channel over to CBS’s newly co-owned TVGN (TV Guide Network). The new home of BBAD will offer two-hours each night with a “curated live feed” airing at 12AM-2AM live ET / delayed PT. We’re wondering if “curated” means “censored” or that they’ll have someone selecting cameras to avoid extended footage of wall-staring, solo acts. Also of note, the first week of After Dark episodes will run commercial-free on TVGN. Check www.tvgn.tv for availability.
With so many new and improved aspects planned for Big Brother 15 we’re more excited than ever for this season to arrive. We hope you’ll join us all summer here on the site along with Facebook, Twitter, and by our Email updates.
What part of the 2013 Big Brother summer season are you most excited to experience?
What about Canada. There are a lot of people in Canada who cannot get BBAD now that it is going to be on TVGN. And what about the live feeds. I have purchased the lives feeds before and they were great. This move is not a good one by CBS Hope they reconsider before the season starts.
I so agree!!!! What a wash. :(
And your live feeds are not avail to Canadians. Must be retaliation for BB Canada not giving feeds to the USA. It was our first season and they wanted to get their numbers before supporting the cost across our friendly borders. I would have been happy to even pay a little extra just to have the feeds. No feeds…no BB this year.
C’mon Les Moonves…don’t be cheap!
I don’t think it’s a retaliation issue at all. No one thought it was a malicious act by BBCAN to block US, so why is it malicious in reverse? I’m thinking they wanted to keep the markets separate for whatever reason.
Hi Matthew…yes, perhaps. I was mad when I posted that…lol but I am still very upset about no feeds. It means I won’t watch the tv show either and I was sooo looking forward to that. Due to it voyeuristic nature, the feeds is what make BB so much fun. Can’t have one without the other. :(
But I do with you all an enjoyable summer w BB. :)
I agree, I will not watch without the live feeds, that is what I enjoy. CBC and Global get your act together SOON. Canadians are great fans but we want it ALL! We are willing to PAY !!!!
Real Great CBS ,,,, AT&T customers don’t get TVGN – stupid executive idiots – didn’t even think this one through? Now many of us can’t watch….what a stupid thing to do – doh