Entertainment

'Big Brother' reaches 1,000th episode milestone amid rising viewership

The long-running CBS reality series becomes the first U.S. primetime entertainment show to hit 1,000 episodes while reporting audience growth.

Updated Aug 27, 2026 · 18:35 UTC1 reports

The short version

CBS reality show 'Big Brother' is airing its 1,000th episode during its 28th season, becoming the first U.S. primetime entertainment program to reach the milestone.
The series is averaging 5.21 million cross-platform viewers per episode this summer, reflecting a 10 percent year-over-year increase.
Overall watch time for the season, including 24-hour live feeds, is projected to exceed 15 billion minutes.

'Big Brother' reached its 1,000th episode in its 28th season due to its format of airing multiple episodes per week.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Through August 9, the program averaged 5.21 million viewers across platforms within seven days of broadcast, a 10 percent increase compared to the previous year.[The Hollywood Reporter]
The show saw ratings increases of 21 percent among adults aged 25–54 and 15 percent among adults aged 18–49.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Friday companion show 'Big Brother Unlocked' averaged 3.14 million cross-platform viewers, up 21 percent year over year.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Total season viewing time is on track to surpass 15 billion minutes, compared to 8.6 billion minutes recorded during the previous season.[The Hollywood Reporter]