Tweet

Bucks for Big Brother

By Ken Kerschbaumer -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/8/2001 8:00:00 PM

Last year, fans of Big Brother had the chance to check in on the TV show's 24-hour Web cams for free. This year, it's gonna cost them.

CBS is charging $19.95 for Web-cam access for the show's three-month run, with access to such other components as detailed summaries of events, a 24/7 chat room, opinion polls, a 3-D tour of the house, and video clips. Or fans can subscribe to RealNetworks' GoldPass for $9.95 a month, which will also include other related content, such as games and software downloads.

David Katz, CBS vice president, strategic planning and interactive ventures, says the online community played a vital role in the popularity of the first installment, but CBS will learn whether charging money to be part of that vital role will keep viewers tuned out.

Four live camera feeds will be available to subscribers. A free trial subscription was available through July 8, but, as of July 9, it's pay for play.

Tweet

Talkback

We would love your feedback!

Post a comment

» View All Talkback Threads

Related Content

• Topics
• Author
• Most Popular Pages

No related content found.

Also by this author

• Looking for more laughs

• The Wide, Wider World

• Eye on the Sky

• All in the Family

• If You Broadcast in HD, Fans Will Come

Also by Ken Kerschbaumer

Most Popular Pages

No Top Articles

• Resource Center
• Browse Categories
• Browse Companies

Featured Company

• Digital Rapids

  

  Digital Rapids provides market-leading software and hardware solutions, technology and expertise for transforming live and on-demand video to reach wider audiences on the latest viewing platforms more efficiently, more effectively and more profitably. Empowering applications from..more

---

Most Recent Resources

• The New Normal for Promoting Tune-in
• Achieving Operational Freedom in Digital Media Workflows