I'd be very surprised if ITV2 weren't tempted by Big Brother as a winter Love Island, and when you consider how well I'm A Celebrity does, they'd surely give CBB a thought.
Yes, the brand has baggage, but it still manages to generate massive news coverage and does well in an attractive demographic.
Another point... Am I right in thinking this is the first civilian BB to take place during Autumn/Winter? (What I've always called X Factor Season)
There'd be a certain irony if the show rates well during this period making it far more attractive for an established channel like ITV2 or Sky 1 to snap it up for next year.
Failing that, a channel trying to make a name for itself like Quest Red could have a go (budget permitting).
It's a dead horse that's been flogged for a bit too long unfortunately and needs an extended break from TV screens if it does ever get picked up again.
It became less and less of a social experiment over the years and just another show for the wannabe media whores to get their 5 seconds of fame.
IF a broadcaster picks it up, it needs a full reboot and reset. I suspect the brand is a little too toxic right now though.
Some nice nods to the past on this evening's launch show - including bringing the housemates on to set in cars.
I don't and haven't ever watched the show, but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't come back in the future, though I do think that will be a fair few years before that happens.
It just needs a break. 18 years for a show which airs every day for a period of 4-8 weeks, sometimes multiple times a year can be overkill.
If Channel 5 had just waited a year or two until it has left Channel 4 then I think they could have even got a few more years out of it.
The best thing now is to give it a break for a while. Then it can comeback fully refreshed to reach a brand new audience into the 2020's, maybe on a new channel.
I would say 4 years plus at least if not more. Dancing on Ice is a good example where though it took a four year break, it felt like it actually never left and the last series grew thin very quickly.
Just a shame The X Factor couldn't follow the same suit.
We can go back to Saturday Night Takeaway or, indeed, Love Island as examples of shows that were given a break and came back stronger. It could be the case with Big Brother too.
The issues in ITV2 taking it on are whether they want to take a show rejected by another channel, and Channel 5 at that, and the baggage: the last celebrity series was the absolute worst one to finish off with if you were trying to convince another broadcaster to take it. ITV has bigger brand issues to consider than just what gets them ****-tons of views on ITV2.
You're then into the likes of Sky, and surely they'd rather spend the cash on big name imports. Online-only is an option, but I don't think we're quite there yet for a show which is watch live and watercooler stuff.