I think Upfronts next week could be very telling. I see them going ham for the show and potentially announcing a longer, fleshed out series for next year. The short season this year may certainly be a detriment to the typical format. But by focussing Upfronts around the house, Big Brother and their plan for next year, it gets ahead of any naysayers in advance by assuring everyone that this season is a taste before a fully fledged series early 2026. As a result, rather than criticise, people may go into this season with more of an open mind with the knowledge that something bigger is on the way.
Maybe.
As I said here a couple months ago, I think the smartest thing Ten and the show can do is be transparent about their intentions.