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Seven issues Endemol Shine legal letter over Big Brother “hold back”

The surprise announcement of Big Brother's return has led to a legal letter from Seven to producers over its "hold back" to mid 2025.

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EXCLUSIVE:

Big Brother is never far from controversy…. this time it is behind the scenes.

Plans to return Big Brother in 2025 caught Seven by surprise this week, especially given it still has a “hold back” on the format until mid 2025.

A “hold back” effectively prevents negotiations commencing with another broadcaster, “until the day after the hold back finishes. You can’t start production in the middle. You can’t be casting, you can’t be announcing hosts. You can’t be announcing deals,” an industry source said.

TV Tonight understands a legal letter has now been sent by Seven Network to production company Endemol Shine Australia after the surprise inclusion at this week’s Network 10 Upfront.

On Monday 10 announced the show would return home to the network where it all began in Q4 2025 with new host Mel Tracina. It was such a well-kept secret because the agreement had only been finalised in the days leading up to the event. It grabbed everybody’s attention, especially media and the loyal fan-base.

Seven Network last screened the series in December 2023 but while it no longer has an option on the show it does have a “hold back” on the format until mid 2025.

There is no suggestion of wrong-intent on anybody’s part, nor any suggestion Seven is trying to prevent 10’s broadcast of Big Brother. At this stage there is also no change to 10’s plans to proceed with the format.

But questions are being asked around rights for a show that costs upwards of $20m and the hold back that is supposed to come with it.

Endemol Shine Australia, Seven and Network 10 have all been contacted for comment.

29 Responses

  2. Well…. 7plus does still have a Big Brother “channel” even today so they’ve not completely had enough of it yet, even if only 3 or 4 people are watching it. And yes it’s a petty move, but can you really blame them? If hypothetically I were 7 and I had paid for the exclusive rights to something for a set period of time and someone else decided to move in on those rights early, as though my exclusive contract no longer existed–even if I no longer were interested in the product by that time–I’d be fuming. And I bet any of you probably would be too.

  3. Any revival needs Gretel, otherwise I’m not watching…. Also the claim on Nova radio that the original series didn’t live stream? Ummmmmm yeah it did! Season 1 atleast, remember watching here in Perth to see who got evicted before it went to air. Good luck to 10!

    1. It 100% live streamed – I remember watching here in Perth at night when they were all asleep and couldn’t stop watching in case someone woke up and did something!!

  4. BB (Big Brother) has had its time on all 3 networks I for one plus I know of heaps of other people that wont be watching so for 10 execs at Melbourne Upfront referring to everybody being excited for the show’s return they have that wrong

    🙂

  7. That’s frustrating this better not effect 10’s revival of Big Brother how is this any different from The Voice going from 9 to 7 they didn’t wait a year

    2. Nine may not have had a hold back clause in The Voice contract, so Seven could take it immediately, Seven had that hold back clause as the Article says until mid 2025. Meaning before then Seven held the right to decide to revive the show, announce it, put out a casting call and get to setting up production until that mid year point, if all that was done before that date in time, they could air it either before or after mid year 2025.

  8. Commerical reality and contract law. If you have the rights to a property, you are not going to let a competitor use it until you no longer have the rights for whatever reason – regardless of whether you use the rights or not in the meantime. Doesn’t just happen in TV.

  10. RFDS, The Voice, Farmer Wants a Wife, Australian Idol all screened on other networks before they moved to Seven. Seven never had any intention of screening another season of BB. Getting the lawyers in isn’t going to change that.

  12. As if Seven was going to air another season – it flopped! The reason for so much excitement is because Ten is committed to making it an “old school” season.

    1. If they want it to succeed they absolutely need the live element – its what made it unique back in the day. The audience wants to feel part of the show – if its all prerecorded and no audience involvement there is no urgency to watch it straight away.

  14. Not that I am interested in this long running reality TV subject but Channel 10 is claimed to be facing “serious turmoil” amid failing programs, sliding ratings, an ad revenue crisis, and a messy ownership battle at its American parent company; according to a News.com.au media article on May 7th 2024

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