Big Brother brings live feeds to YouTube, but not 24/7
CBS is making a big change to Big Brother season 28: for the first time, the show's famous live feeds will stream on YouTube—but only for limited windows after each broadcast episode, not 24/7. Full around-the-clock access still belongs to Paramount+ and Pluto subscribers. Feeds launch July 10 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT following Big Brother: Unlocked.
Key Takeaways
- Big Brother live feeds debut on YouTube for the first time during season 28, but only after each episode for unspecified limited periods.
- Paramount+ and Pluto retain exclusive 24/7 access to the feeds, which go live July 10 at 9 p.m. ET.
- The season 28 cast was revealed via the inaugural Big Brother: Broveal YouTube livestream on July 7.
- Survivor star Rick Devens and returning player Angela Murray joined as surprise houseguests at the July 9 premiere, per Deadline.
- Season 28 marks the franchise's biggest programming expansion in 25 years, including 90-minute Wednesday episodes.
Why is Big Brother putting live feeds on YouTube now?
Paramount and CBS are expanding the franchise's digital footprint as season 28 kicks off what the network calls its biggest season ever. According to The Hollywood Reporter, YouTube will carry live feed segments for limited periods following each episode throughout the summer—a first in the show's 25-year history.
There are currently no additional details on how long those windows will last. Fans who want uninterrupted house access will still need Paramount+ or the free Pluto FAST service. The move gives casual viewers a taste of the raw, unfiltered feeds that diehards rely on for strategy, alliances, and drama that never makes the broadcast edit.
When do the season 28 live feeds start?
The Big Brother season 28 live feeds go live Friday, July 10 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, immediately following the premiere of Big Brother: Unlocked at 8 p.m. ET/PT that same night. The 90-minute season premiere aired Thursday, July 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with a 90-minute Sunday episode capping the opening weekend on July 12.
Beyond the feeds, each Wednesday Big Brother episode will run 90 minutes this summer, and Big Brother: Unlocked will air every Friday night. Later this summer, the CBS reality staple is set to become the first primetime series to reach 1,000 original episodes—a milestone Paramount is highlighting alongside the expanded programming slate.
Who is competing on Big Brother season 28?
Fourteen houseguests were introduced during the inaugural Big Brother: Broveal livestream on July 7 at noon ET/9 a.m. PT. Host Julie Chen Moonves opened the doors to the Big Brother: Time Trip-themed house, revealing a cast that includes RuPaul's Drag Race star Jason De Puy (performing as Salina EsTitties), rocket scientist Mallory Aurichio, MMA fighter Kamuela Kirk, and Lyric Medeiros, per Deadline's cast gallery.
Entertainment Weekly exclusively reported that Survivor 50 fan favorite Rick Devens would join the game alongside a second unnamed former Survivor castaway, though CBS had not publicly confirmed either at publication. Deadline later noted Devens and Big Brother 26 alum Angela Murray entered the house as surprise guests during the July 9 premiere.
Will YouTube viewers get full access to the house?
No. While the Big Brother YouTube channel marks a major shift for the franchise, Paramount+ and Pluto subscribers retain the only true 24/7 live feed access. YouTube viewers will see limited windows after each Big Brother and Big Brother: Unlocked episode, plus curated moments from both shows throughout the summer.
For fans tracking every whispered alliance in the HOH room, a paid or free streaming subscription remains essential. The YouTube experiment appears aimed at hooking new viewers—offering a free sample of the feeds that have powered celebrity breaking news cycles and online fandoms for decades without replacing the core subscription model.