Because we know you can’t get enough ‘Big Brother’

Cory Bergman August 17th, 2007

Fans of the CBS reality show Big Brother 8 can now watch a dedicated 24/7 live feed from the house on their Verizon Wireless phones. The service is powered by V-CAST Mobile TV and MediaFLO — which is now available in 30 markets. While you may not be a big fan of Big Brother, you have to admit that broadcasting a dedicated 24/7 live feed to a cell phone is pretty cool. Press release…

LOS ANGELES, BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and SAN DIEGO.— Contestants on Big Brother 8 may be housebound, but fans of the hit TV show can follow the drama of this season’s final four weeks live, wherever they are. Marking the first time content from a primetime television show has aired live and continuously on mobile handsets in the U.S., CBS Mobile, Verizon Wireless and MediaFLO™ USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), have teamed up to provide a new channel dedicated to Big Brother 8. The channel will air a real-time, 24/7 feed of the activity inside the Big Brother House from August 19 through the season finale on Sept. 18, 2007 (note: programming is subject to change). In total, hundreds of hours of live programming will air on the Big Brother service, which is available at no additional charge to V CAST Mobile TV subscribers.

“We are thrilled to provide Big Brother’s passionate and digitally savvy fans with yet another way to keep connected to the show 24/7,” said Cyriac Roeding, executive vice president, CBS Mobile. “CBS Mobile is about innovation and creating truly made-for-mobile experiences. This Big Brother channel is both - a first in the U.S., and the most mobile entertainment possible - allowing you to ’live’ with the Big Brother houseguests on your phone 24/7.”

Ryan Hughes, vice president of programming, Verizon Wireless, noted, “With Big Brother 8 from CBS, Verizon Wireless demonstrates our commitment to deliver the most compelling, exclusive programming available on mobile handsets.”

“Big Brother 8 enjoys an avid following, and we are excited to provide fans with 24/7 access to the Big Brother house on their own terms - wherever they are and whenever they want,” said Mike Bailey, vice president of programming, MediaFLO USA. “This is a great example of the innovative programming opportunities only MediaFLO USA’s FLO TV™ service can provide.”

Since its premiere earlier this summer, Big Brother 8 has been available to fans on multiple platforms including online, on the phone, on Showtime Networks and, of course, on the CBS Television Network. Mobile offerings available in addition to the new 24/7 mobile TV channel include downloads, special video clips, photos, live breaking house alerts and daily insider summaries sent straight to cell phones. In addition to this new channel, subscribers are able to view full episodes of Big Brother 8 on the CBS Mobile channel.

The dedicated Big Brother 8 channel will supplement regular programming from CBS Mobile, one of the eight regular services available on FLO TV, which is available to consumers on V CAST Mobile TV from Verizon Wireless. Other services include Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile, FOX Mobile, MTV: Music Television, NBC 2Go, NBC News2Go and Nickelodeon.

V CAST Mobile TV is live in more than 30 markets from coast to coast, including Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. For a complete list and map of available markets, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/mobiletv. More information on FLO TV can be found at www.flotv.com.

BIG BROTHER 8 follows the relationships and conflicts of players who live together in a house outfitted with dozens of cameras and microphones recording their every move 24 hours a day. One by one, the houseguests will vote each other out of the house. At the end of three months, the last remaining houseguest will receive the grand prize. BIG BROTHER 8 is executive produced by Emmy Award winner Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan, in association with Endemol U.S.A.

To preserve the drama for BIG BROTHER 8 television viewers, CBS may block or delay the mobilecast for a limited number of real-time events that transpire in the house.