“What a ride it’s been!”

Ten's public farewell to BB

Many of you might have noticed a full-page advertisement in your major newspaper on Monday, containing a thankyou message from Network TEN to the BB audience. If you missed it, here is the message in full. Thanks to DQ for transcribing:

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It’s Time To Go Big Brother
What a ride it’s been!

Network TEN is proud to have introduced Big Brother to the Australian audiences in 2001.

The original reality series changed the face of Australian television, becoming a pop culture phenomenon.

After eight successful seasons, Big Brother will not be returning to Network TEN. On Monday July 21st we will air the finale of the much loved program.

Celebrated for it’s humour and controversy, Big Brother has taken on topics of race, sex, homosexuality, eating disorders and alcohol abuse-many of which have been handled gingerly, if at all, on TV.

We’d like to say thank you to our loyal Big Brother fans who have been committed to the show throughout the years. We couldn’t have come so far without you.

Also thanks to Endemol Southern Star, our sponsors, the crew, the house mates and especially to our hosts, most recently Kylie and Jackie O who have done an outstanding job fronting Big Brother this year- Ushering in more than a million viewers each Sunday night (not bad for a series in it’s eighth year).

And of course thank you to the incredible Gretel Killeen who jumped on the Big Brother ride with us all those years ago.

Eight years ago Network TEN changed the landscape of Australian television when we brought you Big Brother…..We have big plans for 2009.

Stay tuned….Seriously.”