Big Brother fans must pay for 24-hour viewing

Big Brother bosses announced today that a live internet feed is to return for fans - but at a cost.

Channel 4 dropped the usual 24-hour streaming last year so devotees were only able to monitor the show on TV.

But the station said round-the-clock surveillance would resume for the final BB - which begins on June 9 - if fans forked out for daily, weekly or whole-series passes.

Channel 4 said charges would go towards covering the increased costs of providing the service.
Streaming will cost 49p by the day, £1.99 for a week or £14.99 for the entire 13-week series at the official site www.channel4.com/bigbrother.

Channel 4 commissioning editor David Williams said: "Years ago streaming online was less popular due to the limitations of technology; however now we know that the vast majority of fans will have access to broadband and are very active online.

"This is a great way of Channel 4 giving the fans the all-access action that they want, and thanking them for following the show for the past 11 years."

C4 is to give away 1,000 free season passes to the first 1,000 viewers who register on the website from 7pm on June 8.

The feed - which is only available within the UK for over-16s - will begin when all housemates have entered the house.

Further live streaming will take place on E4 during the afternoon and overnight on both E4 and Channel 4.

Streaming will have a 15-minute delay for legal reasons.