Just over two weeks out from Launch, and not a word has been said yet about a 24x7 live stream online.
A leaked official website template shows no placeholder for a live stream. In fact, it looks like we'll be fed highlight videos edited by SSE instead.
Back in 2001-02 we had fixed webcams inside the House, and visible to HMs, streaming limited blocks of live footage to viewers over dial-up internet. From 2003 onward we have always had live streaming available, sometimes at a cost via a premium content package, and sometimes for free. We have seen the stream go on delay to avoid streaming something live that violates the MA rating. We've seen streams constantly being cut while HMs discussed taboo topics or while BB just wanted to keep us from knowing what was going on. But the live streams have always been there.
Times have changed since 2008. Social media has taken off and everyone is multi-screening as they watch TV shows. A website or app with live streaming, or a live TV channel, and a way for fans to chat, post and respond with each other in real time would surely be the way for Nine to go to ensure a non-stop audience and advertising revenue.
From 2003-07 we even had up to two and a half hours of live footage screened on Channel Ten at night, and that was in the days before digital TV and multi-channels. Now that each network can broadcast at least four different programs at once, Nine has declined to bring back Up Late.
For some reason it looks like the fans will only see the footage the network wants us to see, and think of the Housemates what they want us to think. Big Brother indeed!
