.:SpIcYsPy:.
04-12-2006, 13:45
CHANNEL 4 has signed a massive £70million-a-year deal to keep Big Brother for three more years.
Producer Endemol hiked the price from £40million a year after a rival bid from ITV.
But C4 was determined to keep the hit reality show. It now has it until 2010, with the new deal kicking off after next summer’s series.
It covers the main show — hosted by Davina McCall — plus Celebrity Big Brother and spin-offs such as Big Brother’s Little Brother and Big Brother’s Big Mouth.
A TV source last night confirmed: “Channel 4 has triumphed, which is a huge blow to ITV. Bosses there were keen to have it.” ITV had hoped to grab the show to boost its summer schedule.
But losing BB would have been devastating for C4. It gets the channel’s highest ratings and brings in huge advertising revenue.
Nearly eight million viewers saw wacky Pete Bennett, 24, win this year.
C4 said last night: “We are the spiritual home of Big Brother.”
Producer Endemol hiked the price from £40million a year after a rival bid from ITV.
But C4 was determined to keep the hit reality show. It now has it until 2010, with the new deal kicking off after next summer’s series.
It covers the main show — hosted by Davina McCall — plus Celebrity Big Brother and spin-offs such as Big Brother’s Little Brother and Big Brother’s Big Mouth.
A TV source last night confirmed: “Channel 4 has triumphed, which is a huge blow to ITV. Bosses there were keen to have it.” ITV had hoped to grab the show to boost its summer schedule.
But losing BB would have been devastating for C4. It gets the channel’s highest ratings and brings in huge advertising revenue.
Nearly eight million viewers saw wacky Pete Bennett, 24, win this year.
C4 said last night: “We are the spiritual home of Big Brother.”