Channel 4 Extends Rights To Big Brother
Channel 4 has extended its deal with Endemol UK to retain the UK rights to Big Brother for another two years, signalling the broadcaster’s confidence in the programme after a heated ratings battle with ITV’s Celebrity Love Island.
The new deal will see Channel 4 airing Big Brother and its spin-off programmes to the end of 2007. The broadcast rights also cover interactive TV, new media and commercial activities such as books, DVDs and CDs.
Channel 4’s current four-year contract with Endemol finishes at the end of 2005. The new deal will see Endemol continue to produce the series for television via its production arm, Endemol UK Productions. Victoria Real, a division of Endemol UK, will also produce the show’s new media content.
Commenting on the extension of Channel 4’s rights to Big Brother, Julian Bellamy, head of Channel 4 factual entertainment and E4, said: “We are delighted to extend our commitment to Big Brother for a further two years. Big Brother has become a traditional and hugely popular fixture in the summertime TV calendar.”
Lucas Church, joint managing director of Endemol UK added: “This has been a fantastic four year collaboration during which Big Brother has continued to be renowned for its innovation. Channel 4 remains the natural home for this project and we are delighted to be extending our partnership for another two years.”
Last month saw Channel 4 launch Britain’s sixth series of Big Brother, marking the broadcaster’s largest ever cross platform, multimedia execution of the long running reality franchise.
The new series includes the launch of a 24-hour online channel for the programme, as well as a mobile portal, complete with video feeds, operated by mobile content firm, Volantis.
The programme has faced fierce competition from ITV’s rival reality show, Celebrity Love Island, with the two prime-time offerings trading blows, frequently topping one another in what has become a closely fought battle for supremacy (see Big Brother Beats Love Island As BBC Stays On Top).
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