Big Brother: Unlocked ratings hit series high as CBS original climbs
Big Brother averaged 5 million viewers in premiere week, while CBS says Unlocked drew its biggest audience yet with 3.44 million.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Big Brother: Unlocked ratings have reached a new high, giving CBS another summer TV win as the main Big Brother series also opened Season 28 ahead of last year, according to Nielsen data and figures released by the network.
The Julie Chen Moonves-hosted reality show averaged 5 million viewers across the first three episodes of its new season, which premiered July 9, according to Nielsen. CBS said that marks a 14% gain from last year’s premiere-week average of 4.34 million viewers.
Using live-plus-three-day multiplatform ratings, CBS said Big Brother also improved in key advertiser-friendly age groups. The show rose 13% among adults 18 to 49 and 18% among adults 25 to 54, according to the network.
The numbers keep the long-running format in strong shape after CBS previously said the Season 28 launch was the show’s most-watched premiere episode in five years.
What are the Big Brother: Unlocked ratings?
Big Brother: Unlocked averaged 3.44 million viewers for its latest episode, CBS said. That made it the spinoff’s biggest audience so far and put it 46% above its premiere last year, according to the network.
The companion show is hosted by Jerry O’Connell, Taylor Hale and Derrick Lavaseur. It offers discussion of the main series along with extra footage that did not air on Big Brother.
The spinoff, which launched last year, got a jolt from a reality-TV crossover during the premiere. Survivor winner Dee Valladares entered the game on Big Brother: Unlocked, according to CBS.
How Big Brother compared with Love Island
CBS also put its summer reality horse race in sharper terms, saying the first three Big Brother episodes beat the first six episodes of Peacock’s Love Island during the premiere window by 58%. CBS said Love Island averaged 3.15 million viewers for its premiere week.
The comparison comes as reality competition and dating shows keep fighting for summer audiences across broadcast and streaming. CBS framed the figures using the same premiere-window period, while citing Nielsen for the Big Brother results.
What is happening in Big Brother season 28?
Season 28 introduced a time-travel theme and brought in 14 new Houseguests. CBS also included surprise appearances from Angela Murray, Rachel Reilly and Rick Devens, all known to reality TV viewers.
Big Brother was created by John De Mol. The CBS version is produced by Fly on the Wall Entertainment with Endemol Shine North America.
Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan serve as executive producers on the series.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.