CBS Head Addresses the Future of ‘Survivor,’ ‘Big Brother’ & ‘The Amazing Race’
From the “Survivor” jungle to the “Big Brother” house and all across the globe with “The Amazing Race,” CBS’s trifecta of Emmy-winning reality competition series have seen millions of viewers tuning in to the network over the last 25 years. Even two decades after their respective debuts, all three series have celebrated the launch of new seasons in recent months, including the premieres of “Survivor 49,” “Big Brother 27” and “The Amazing Race” Season 38.
While the long-running trifecta continues to rake in record-breaking viewership numbers, CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach addressed the future of the three reality series after the network announced its plans to focus on scripted content in 2026 and beyond.
Reisenbach Says ‘Survivor,’ ‘Big Brother’ & ‘The Amazing Race’ Are Here to Stay
In an interview with The Wrap, Reisenbach, joined by CBS studio chief David Stapf, revealed that CBS is currently in the process of building the “strongest lineup in the company’s history” as other networks scale back due to “declining linear revenues.”
On Sunday (October 12) CBS launched its fall premiere week, capitalizing on the wide viewership brought by an NFL doubleheader to new and returning scripted series. The network’s Primtime fall lineup includes dramas like “Matlock,” “Elsbeth” and “NCIS,” as well as comedies series like “Ghosts,” “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” and “DMV.”
“There’s so much great television out there right now, but this is really our way of planting our flag and cutting through the noise to say we’re back and we’re back in a big way,” said Reisenbach addressing CBS’s laser-focus on promoting scripted series like “Tracker,” “High Potential” and “9-1-1.”
Despite the network’s plans to focus on scripted content in the coming year, Reisenbach revealed that CBS unscripted staples, namely titles like “Survivor,” “Big Brother” and “The Amazing Race,” will remain part of their Primetime lineup for the forseeable future.
“We don’t see the shows going anywhere anytime soon,” said Reisebach.
What’s Next for the CBS Reality Competition Series Trifecta?
Last month, both “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race” celebrated Emmy nominations for their most recent seasons. Meanwhile, “Big Brother” made headlines with its latest summer-long installment. Now, new seasons of “Survivor” and “TAR” join the CBS fall Primetime line-up.
Despite budget cuts and decreased revenue across the vast majority of network television, the series’ respective hosts Jeff Probst (“Survivor”), Julie Chen Moonves (“Big Brother”) and Phil Keoghan (“TAR”) have previously stated that they have no intention of retiring anytime soon. The hosts’ statements are backed not only by 25 years of continued success, but also by Reisenbach’s support of CBS unscripted content in a turbulent time for network TV.
“The audience has come to appreciate the consistency, they know they’re going to get quality year after year and show after show,” added Stapf. “The genius of the network is strategically looking at the schedule not just in the immediate but far down the road. [Reisenbach] does a really good job of playing chess with it all.”
Robert Voets/CBSWhile Season 49 of “Survivor” and Season 38 of “The Amazing Race” – featuring a cast entirely composed of former “Big Brother” players – are currently airing on CBS, the network is also looking forward to the highly anticipated premiere of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” next year. Similarly, Seasons 51 and 52 of “Survivor” are currently in pre-production.
A 39th season of “TAR” is similarly in the process of casting its contestants, while rumors suggest that an “All Winners” season of “Big Brother” is also in the pipeline at CBS, speaking to the longevity of the “Big Three” reality series and the dedication of their respective fans.
