Qld: Third Big Brother series on its way
By Dale Paget
GOLD COAST, Aug 9 AAP - Overcome by brotherly love, Channel Ten has given a green lightto a third series of the hit reality soap Big Brother.
A short-form celebrity version of the popular series finishes next Monday but cameraswill roll again on a dozen new housemates around Easter next year.
Negotiations with producers, Southern Star Endemol, have been underway for more thana month, with a deal for the series three rights reached on the same terms as series two.
Network Ten's general manager of program finance and development, Andy McIntyre, saidtoday Big Brother III would not be exactly the same as the earlier series.
"They (Southern Star) will continue to reinvent the format so that it will offer theviewers new surprises and we think it will be a tremendous success," he said.
"We will take a lead from other markets internationally where the format has provedits resilience over many series."
Ten's recent revenue growth has been driven by the success of Big Brother, which targetedthe network's core youth audience.
The final eviction episode in July attracted 2.3 million viewers and was the thirdmost watched show of the year, and the most popular among 16 to 39 year olds, accordingto the network.
Series two was able to attract a larger audience than series one in a far more competitivebroadcast environment, said Southern Star Endemol's chief executive Denis Spencer.
"We are determined to maintain this trend," he said.
Channel Ten has remained upbeat about the three week long Celebrity Big Brother forCharity series, despite ratings victories by rival programs including Channel Seven'sCommonwealth Games coverage and Channel Nine's IQ Test.
"We've been very happy with it," Mr McIntyre said.
"It's very much targeted at that under 40s market and it's certainly surpassed the expectations."
The third Australian series is likely to turn to the United Kingdom for inspiration.
The third UK series, which ended last month, increased ratings by an average of 25 per cent.
New elements in the UK house included allowing some housemates to live in luxury.
The two Australian series have proven to be star makers for some of the contestants.
Varying levels of fame and fortune are being enjoyed by winners Ben Williams (seriesone) and Peter Corbett (series two) and runners-up Blair McDonough, Sara Marie Fedele,Nathan "Marty" Martin and Jessica Hardy.
There were 27,000 entries from would-be contestants for Big Brother II.
Applications for Big Brother III are expected to be called in December.
Gold Coast theme park Dreamworld will open the Big Brother house for public tours laterthis month.
AAP dp/sc/tnf/sb
KEYWORD: BIG BROTHER NIGHTLEAD
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