Big Brother season 28 scores best premiere ratings in five years
Big Brother Season 28 drew 3.88 million live plus same-day viewers on its July 9 CBS premiere, the franchise's strongest opening audience in five years and up 22% from last season. The big brother schedule keeps new episodes on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET, with extended Wednesday blocks and Friday-night Unlocked episodes.
The ratings rebound matters beyond bragging rights. CBS leaned on cross-franchise casting and expanded programming this summer, and viewers showed up in force. Social engagement also hit a franchise high since 2020, with 8.1 million views and 866,000 interactions, per Deadline.
Key Takeaways
- Season 28's premiere averaged 3.88 million viewers, up 22% from Season 27's 3.18 million opener and the best since July 2021.
- The big brother schedule runs Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET, plus 90-minute Wednesdays and Friday-night Big Brother: Unlocked.
- CBS announced 14 new houseguests before the premiere, with Survivor's Rick Devens and Big Brother returnee Angela Murray joining as surprise additions.
- Week 1 shifted when Mallory Aurichio won the Power of Veto and Head of Household Dee Valladares replaced her with Ashley Trail.
- Jason De Puy is already campaigning to target Rick Devens, nicknamed "Big Daddy," alongside veterans Dee and Angela.
Why did Big Brother season 28 deliver its biggest premiere audience in five years?
According to Nielsen Big Data plus Panel figures cited by Deadline, the Season 28 premiere reached 3.88 million live plus same-day viewers. That marks the series' most-watched premiere since the July 7, 2021 Season 23 opener, which drew 4.27 million total viewers.
The audience was also up 21% compared with Big Brother's Season 27 Thursday-night average. CBS called it the most-watched Thursday-night Big Brother premiere in six years, dating back to August 2020.
Digital buzz reinforced the linear win. Deadline reported 8.1 million social media views and 866,000 interactions, the show's most-engaged and most-viewed premiere since 2020.
What is the big brother schedule for season 28?
Season 28 returned with a special 90-minute premiere at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 9. Going forward, CBS airs the show on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.
Deadline notes this summer will deliver the most original Big Brother hours in 25 years. Extended 90-minute Wednesday episodes and Big Brother: Unlocked on Friday nights are scheduled throughout the season.
The expanded calendar arrives as the franchise approaches 1,000 original episodes later this summer. For more updates, follow our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
Who makes up the Big Brother 28 cast?
People reports that CBS announced 14 new houseguests ahead of the July 9 premiere, with contestants ranging in age from 22 to 57. The group includes an MMA fighter, rocket scientist, drag queen, and elementary school counselor, among others.
People also cited reporting that Survivor alum Rick Devens and returning Big Brother 26 player Angela Murray would join the house. Gold Derby identified Survivor 45 winner Dee Valladares as another surprise arrival via Julie Chen Moonves' Time Table twist.
That veteran-heavy mix is already shaping Week 1 alliances and early targets inside the house.
How did the first veto meeting change week 1?
Gold Derby's live-feed spoilers show Dee Valladares won the first Head of Household competition, beating Rick Devens and Angela Murray. She initially nominated Mallory Aurichio, Taylor Brown, and Yash Patel for eviction.
Mallory won the season's first Power of Veto, forcing Dee to name a replacement. Rome Seymour, Chuk Anyanwu, and Jason De Puy were off-limits after winning safety during the premiere's time-travel competitions.
At Monday's veto meeting, Dee replaced Mallory with Ashley Trail, leaving Taylor, Yash, and Ashley on the block. Jason has pitched targeting Rick while also putting Dee and Angela on his hit list, arguing the veterans dominate screen time and influence.