Big Brother Australia 2026 rumours

[Kingston]

I never liked FNL, but I do recognise it was a big part of BBAU's success back in the day.

In 2026 it's unlikely to work unless it's heavily cut down to be much more rapid-fire. 90 minutes is a huge ask of people's attention spans these days. I also don't trust the current production crew to be able to do this live.

Plus, didn't Channel 7 era end up phasing out the physical challenges? Cos if people want to watch Survivor they will watch Survivor?

I don’t necessarily think the problem with the 7 era series was the challenges or the format but was more that they took the “Survivor in a house” tagline from BBUS/BBCAN too literal without looking at why the two shows can coexist on the same network airing pretty much back to back. If they are considering reviving FNL I really don’t understand why they aren’t making an honest attempt at a full hybrid format. Especially in a world where it looks like 4 to 6 week series are the standard.

 

[dasnico]

I don’t necessarily think the problem with the 7 era series was the challenges or the format but was more that they took the “Survivor in a house” tagline from BBUS/BBCAN too literal without looking at why the two shows can coexist on the same network airing pretty much back to back. If they are considering reviving FNL I really don’t understand why they aren’t making an honest attempt at a full hybrid format. Especially in a world where it looks like 4 to 6 week series are the standard.

The issue with the 7 era format was Australian audiences were/are not familiar with the strategic and gameplay aspect the US and Canada use(d). All previous seasons obviously didn’t have that. Completely flipping the format on a known show on its head was always going to be a gamble. It was a rapid change from A to Z. Not to even mention the poor implementation and pre-recorded nature of it.

I’d even begin to argue what we just saw on Ten was a hybrid, and a poorly executed one at that. It also certainly wasn’t OG. The editing structure felt quite BBUS/CAN. Ratings were high simply due to the nostalgia that Ten and ESA insincerely sold. Ratings will not hold if what we just saw is what is going to keep getting produced.

Honestly I just think they’re trying too hard to mess with the format now. Either go with one that’s tried and true, that a substantial number of their viewers are inherently familiar with, or let the show die and resurrect it under a new name and make all the changes under the sun that you want.

FNL is only being asked for because it’s familiar and nostalgic to most viewers. I could say the same for the whole OG argument many are making. Even if FNL, or a version of it, is resurrected, I’m not at all convinced this current team could pull it off.

 

[Kingston]

The issue with the 7 era format was Australian audiences were/are not familiar with the strategic and gameplay aspect the US and Canada use(d). All previous seasons obviously didn’t have that. Completely flipping the format on a known show on its head was always going to be a gamble. It was a rapid change from A to Z. Not to even mention the poor implementation and pre-recorded nature of it.

I’d even begin to argue what we just saw on Ten was a hybrid, and a poorly executed one at that. It also certainly wasn’t OG. The editing structure felt quite BBUS/CAN. Ratings were high simply due to the nostalgia that Ten and ESA insincerely sold. Ratings will not hold if what we just saw is what is going to keep getting produced.

Honestly I just think they’re trying too hard to mess with the format now. Either go with one that’s tried and true, that a substantial number of their viewers are inherently familiar with, or let the show die and resurrect it under a new name and make all the changes under the sun that you want.

FNL is only being asked for because it’s familiar and nostalgic to most viewers. I could say the same for the whole OG argument many are making. Even if FNL, or a version of it, is resurrected, I’m not at all convinced this current team could pull it off.

Given the ratings for 7’s first season stand by what I said. This isn’t the 2000’s and if the success of shows like The Circle and The Traitors are anything to go off of the is at least some appetite for character driven gameplay formats.

You’re also discounting that FNL owes its existence to BBUS. While Australian viewers generally shy away from the strategic gameplay for a show like Survivor they do enjoy the competitive aspect. Which again is why FNL became the institution it did.

It should be obvious that I’m really not arguing against the original format but I’m saying if this is the route they’re going down it’s really not helping them trying to have their cake and eat it too.