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BBUSA: Over the Top - online series on CBS All Access

Here's the thing: Will we have a Big Brother that interacts with HGs like in the non-North American series?

In an interview the producers they are happy with the current format for the main televised edition but since live Internet feeds are the primary source of viewing for this edition they are trying out new things. They have stated if this season is a success and CBS renews this edition then both will continue on but keep their formats separated. Another thing they are taking from international BB is enforcing them to be awake during the day. They will have times they can sleep and times where they must remain awake.

But based on the feeds tonight there won't be a bit where they go "This is Big Brother..." they will still talk to them like normal like "HouseGuests, xxx" or directly if they have to have a producer make an impromptu announcement in the event Don Wallman is off or they don't have a sound bite from him for a particular situation.

Anything relating to the game Julie will appear on the TV and inform the HouseGuests what game impacting info they need. She did this tonight after they all were getting to know each other and informed them the public was going to vote for the winner that there would be no jury.
 
Now confirmed viewers will each week choose a third nominee, have one vote in the eviction vote and choose three have nots. The care packages also return.
 
In other words, almost the same as the network version.

I don't know why it appears you're disappointed... The show has been produced in pretty much the same way for 17 seasons... While the producers and CBS have been open to testing unique ideas, BB:OTT was NEVER going to be a complete departure from the BB audiences have enjoyed year on year...

This discussion with you is getting out of hand and I will not stand for it anymore... If you don't like BBUS then don't watch the show anymore!!! It's that fucking simple!!! You are becoming just as bad as @bluegroper was with his constant Nikki talk... Now if you don't have anything constructive to add to the conversation here keep your fucking mouth shut... This is the LAST time we will have this conversation...
 
I don't know why it appears you're disappointed... The show has been produced in pretty much the same way for 17 seasons...

I know that. Why do you have to read so much into me? I never said I was disappointed. I was attempting to seek understanding. Trying to connect dots in my head. OK, so I like BBAU. I don't talk about it all the time. I just thought OTT would be a bit different, and it is.
 
I know that. Why do you have to read so much into me? I never said I was disappointed. I was attempting to seek understanding. Trying to connect dots in my head. OK, so I like BBAU. I don't talk about it all the time. I just thought OTT would be a bit different, and it is.

I don't need to read into you... It's very clear where you're at... Just about every time you post in this thread it's whining in one way or another... Nothing seems to meet your high standards and the only way it seems you'd be happy is if things were done the way BBAU would... It's clear that you've brought up BBAU enough times that you felt the need to preemptively tell me to STFU recently...
 
Your source direct from CBS! Even has images :) Enjoy! -> https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/view?id=46127

In other words, almost the same as the network version.
Essentially the live feeds handled the same as the live feeds for the broadcast edition (except for no blackouts). The main difference however is the Housemates can't sleep during the day if they do Big Brother wakes them up again.

Honestly out of all English versions of Big Brother the American (and now Canadian) feeds are the best even if competitions and ceremonies are blacked out you still get to know the Housemates pretty well. Honestly the only reason I even watch the broadcasts is for competitions and diary rooms lol.

It kinda full circle though the American version in a way has been treated like a step-child by international fans over the years due to its vastly different format. However compared to recent seasons of UK/AU (and some foreign language BB's that take their cues from the UK edition) when they axed the live feeds I believe the American/Canadian versions hold onto more fundamental rules of Big Brother which are the essence of the format. To me doesn't matter how they are evicted or how the winner is determined BB to me is completely cut off from the outside world and live feeds.

If a guest is permitted into the House not as much outside info leaks into the House. The most the Housemates usually get is a teaser of a new CBS/Global show. The American version has always embraced the live feeds even during times of controversy and over the years has introduced new features to them. The Canadian version takes what America has done with the feeds one step further with the injections of bits that remind us of classic international BB.

Watching the Housemates enter one at a time but this time through the live feeds was very unique I don't think even an international BB has done that during a launch night I could be wrong though.

The reason the format works so well in North America, in my opinion, is over the years changes were gradual. The main format stays the same but the twists are enough to cause a stir. The Canadian format can experiment a bit more and it is expected of them to keep the format similar but change its presentation and style so that it isn't a carbon copy of CBS' version.
 
Watched a couple of eps through...*cough*... a "source"...
It's a little try hard. The need to label people was a little stretching, as if people couldn't determine their own thoughts. I doubt I will be downl... err... subscribing to the feeds episode. Its a little tiring. Must be because there is no funky pseudo porn music in the background.

I am very glad Jozea didn't get back in. I didn't see Jasons season but I like his character. Better than the other dweeb they have imported. Why do people proclaim they are a virgin? boring.
 
Your source direct from CBS! Even has images :) Enjoy! -> https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/view?id=46127


Essentially the live feeds handled the same as the live feeds for the broadcast edition (except for no blackouts). The main difference however is the Housemates can't sleep during the day if they do Big Brother wakes them up again.

Honestly out of all English versions of Big Brother the American (and now Canadian) feeds are the best even if competitions and ceremonies are blacked out you still get to know the Housemates pretty well. Honestly the only reason I even watch the broadcasts is for competitions and diary rooms lol.

It kinda full circle though the American version in a way has been treated like a step-child by international fans over the years due to its vastly different format. However compared to recent seasons of UK/AU (and some foreign language BB's that take their cues from the UK edition) when they axed the live feeds I believe the American/Canadian versions hold onto more fundamental rules of Big Brother which are the essence of the format. To me doesn't matter how they are evicted or how the winner is determined BB to me is completely cut off from the outside world and live feeds.

If a guest is permitted into the House not as much outside info leaks into the House. The most the Housemates usually get is a teaser of a new CBS/Global show. The American version has always embraced the live feeds even during times of controversy and over the years has introduced new features to them. The Canadian version takes what America has done with the feeds one step further with the injections of bits that remind us of classic international BB.

Watching the Housemates enter one at a time but this time through the live feeds was very unique I don't think even an international BB has done that during a launch night I could be wrong though.

The reason the format works so well in North America, in my opinion, is over the years changes were gradual. The main format stays the same but the twists are enough to cause a stir. The Canadian format can experiment a bit more and it is expected of them to keep the format similar but change its presentation and style so that it isn't a carbon copy of CBS' version.

We shouldn't have to constantly draw @DigitalCorp a picture to have him grasp the simplest of concepts...
 
Be nice its a discussion :)

@alucard719 you haven't posted here for god knows how long... So long that you've had to rejoin the forms just to post... I'm all for discussion in these forums but let me give you an honest description of what it's like to deal with @DigitalCorp...

1305_3_Kanye_Genius.gif


It really isn't much of a discussion...
 
So the first HoH comp involved nothing more than a drink, stuffed toy and some T-shirts - probably the cheapest comp they've ever done. It began with a drink being placed in the house that only one person was allowed to drink. That person became "infected" and eliminated from HoH, having to wear a bug T-shirt and a bug toy. Then when an alarm sounded they had to infect another HG with the bug, eliminating them from HoH. This took place over 24 hours and the jock still won, with Monte being HoH. Jason is the target - the fact they know the viewers choose the winner and he's got a fanbase from previous seasons make it a no-brainer to get rid ASAP.

Nominations will take place over two safety ceremonies - it looks like those saved in the first will also be immune from the vote for the third nominee.
 
I believe the American/Canadian versions hold onto more fundamental rules of Big Brother which are the essence of the format. To me doesn't matter how they are evicted or how the winner is determined BB to me is completely cut off from the outside world and live feeds.

Watching the Housemates enter one at a time but this time through the live feeds was very unique I don't think even an international BB has done that during a launch night I could be wrong though.

The reason the format works so well in North America, in my opinion, is over the years changes were gradual. The main format stays the same but the twists are enough to cause a stir.

I think they are changing the US version and putting more public vote elements in gradually, making it more like what you call the international one.

Bringing people back in can have some outside interference elements at times I suppose, and the scripted DRs and various blackouts on the live feed don't really relate to what Big Brother started as.

I don't mind this new experiment though, it could be good. But one episode a week is even worse than the three they normally do, international versions tend to have rather more. And the US always charges a great deal for their live feed (even with all the blackouts in the past), I know they have been taught to accept that but it is a lot. Not sure if they actually let people outside the US watch this one or not.

The weekday replay looks ok just too short, the live feed highlights not really great though.
 
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$5,99 a month is not a great deal at all - far less than they used to charge for the feeds alone, never mind as part of a package with all other CBS on demand content. Peoples attitudes to online subscription services has changed significantly in the last 5 years - as a pay-TV refusnik I'm signed up to no less than 4 services at the moment and I would happily pay up for this series if it was available in the UK.

The US version (along with Canada now) is about the only version who has the same amount of live feeds now as they did in the first series - and it's what Big Brother is all about. Those who haven't experienced live 24/7 multi-feed Big Brother really don't know what they're missing until you try it - plus the excellent flashback feature means even if nothing is happening when you tune in you can go back to a time when somethine was - and thanks to the community around the live feeds it's easy to find out when interesting things happened.

What UK, Australian and other producers didn't realise is by scrapping the live feeds you basically disband the online community - a community which gives you free promotion 24/7, reaching even the people who didn't watch the live feeds. I suspect we had many members here who never subscribed to the Aussie live feeds but kept up to date with the fan diaries and the content action from the live feeds generated.
 
Depends how much money someone has I suppose, but I'm sure many aren't about to subscribe to loads of different things, many prefer things free as they pay enough for stuff like the internet already. I don't deny feeds are important, certainly when a public vote is more important. But the blackouts also showed the US version in the past wasn't always about to show people everything, whether for manipulative purposes or other reasons. There are still quite a few BBs that have live feed though I think, just not the UK or AU ones.
 
I think they are changing the US version and putting more public vote elements in gradually, making it more like what you call the international one.

A lot of the public elements won't make it into the televised seasons the producers were asked about this and they are happy with main format of the televised edition. They are keeping certain things exclusive to each format if CBS renews OTT for another season. I can see them letting the viewers choose the Have-Nots for a few weeks in the main edition because it wouldn't affect the mechanics of the game much.
 
A lot of the public elements won't make it into the televised seasons the producers were asked about this and they are happy with main format of the televised edition. They are keeping certain things exclusive to each format if CBS renews OTT for another season. I can see them letting the viewers choose the Have-Nots for a few weeks in the main edition because it wouldn't affect the mechanics of the game much.

In the early days there was a lot more viewer input... In the beginnings of the "American format" there was a weekly America's choice vote... I mean it wasn't much but at least there was something linking the public to the format... And while those votes usually involved awarding someone a special privilege or granting the house a tiny luxury, in those days when the storytelling wasn't as power driven it was a nice way to feel like the viewers were still a part of the action inside the house... However I think the producers realized at some point that shifting the focus to even more of a game driven format was what was going to take the show from being renewed on less than a series by series basis to where it is now...

We've basically gone full circle again... With the show being renewed for multiple series in a single order there is even more pressure to push the show further... That said in today's world I'm not sure the voting public would see voting to give someone a letter from home the same way as they did in BB2 or BB3...

Obviously the producers have needed to find ways to engage viewers in a way that makes sense without disrupting established game-play... But they still need to give the viewers the feeling that they can make a meaningful impact... I don't think it's been so much of a gradual introduction as in one way or another BBUS has always had some sort of engagement but really just a matter of production taking their time to find things that work... So it's not so much as finding things that won't affect game mechanics but finding things that make sense within the confines of the game...
 
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The cast of BBOTT was ok, in the usual american formula for the summer BB's.
I dont see big changes other than "America votes in the end".
If viewers get to vote off people and not the players - as in other countries -
thats a complete format change, and will make it worthwhile, but Im guessing
production probably wont do that more than a couple times as twists of
"this week the public votes" here and there..

Many will have BB fatigue as the last season just ended..
so overall Im not sure this format will be such a success, but if it is,
it could mean the end of regular BB and moving other reality tv into "private access"
channels and thats a shame.
 
Also I think people are over-estimating the power of live feeds.
Sure it was very interesting and engaging in the past. we wanted to see how
people live 24/7 together, people woke up, ate, slept with BB on live feed.
I dont think this is the case any longer.
unless theres some amazing new ideas people already know "what life is in the BB
house" and will tune in only if "something big happens".
The live feed becomes less and less important to draw viewers with every season of BB.
 
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