Big Brother International: Format, Critics and Publics

Since its inception, Big Brother has been versioned in over thirty countries and reached an estimated audience of over two billion. The first of its kind, this book includes essays from international contributors that integrate the academic disciplines of cinema studies, sociology, cultural and critical studies. Additionally, it considers the reception and impact of the series, and how different regions adopt the format to suit local cultural concerns and achieve commercial success. The book functions not only as a discussion of one single television program but also as a reflection on the medium's history and future, and its impact on popular culture. It is useful for students, scholars, people involved in the planning and production of television formats, and everyone interested in the function of contemporary television in society.

Since its inception, Big Brother has been versioned in over thirty countries and reached an estimated audience of over two billion. The first of its kind, this book considers the reception and impact of the series, and how different regions adopt the format to suit local cultural concerns and achieve commercial success. The book functions not only as a discussion of one single television program but also as a reflection on the medium's history and future, and its impact on popular culture.

Janet Jones is lecturer at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth. Ernest Mathijs is lecturer in film studies at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth, and co-editor of Alternative Europe and The Cinema of the Low Countries (both Wallflower Press, 2004).