On September 16, 1999, the world attended an event that would mark a before and after in the history of television. For the first time, a group of anonymous people underwent voluntary isolation, recorded by cameras and broadcast to the entire audience. Holland witnessed the birth of Big Brother (Big Brother)Inspired by the famous 1984 appointment by George Orwell: “The Big Brother is watching you.”
The impact of its premiere was total and absolute. And the criticisms were hard, very hard. Few imagined that a similar format, in which there was unleashed to voyeurism, could hook the way he did. Such was the impact of the program that Telecinco decided, despite criticism, to take the rights of the reality. Once the purchase was known, there were even groups that demanded their cancellation … Before being released.
Just a few months later, On April 23, 2000, Telecinco, in collaboration with Zeppelin, undertook a historic path in Spain With the premiere of the adaptation of the format in our country, inaugurating a genre, that of the reality showunexplored until then, and turning the Telerreality contest into a success of audiences and an authentic social phenomenon. Today, therefore, 25 years of the premiere of GH In our country.
Apabullant audience
The premiere of the program, which coincided with resurrection Sunday, seduced about 5.3 million viewers (5,296,000)which resulted in a overwhelming 36.5%. The success of the format had only started. Three months later, he ended with an overwhelming 70.8% and 9,105,000 followers.
If we take into account its 16 galas, the average program was 7,733,000 spectators (51.2%), which makes it The most watched entertainment program in the history of television in our country. It follows Big Brother 2with 6,770,000 spectators (42.5%), ahead of Operation Triumph 1 (6,767,000 and 43.7%) and Operation Triumph 2 (5.599.000 y 36,6%).
The largest screen share achieved by a television program in the history of Spanish TV (not counting sporting, musical and electoral debates) corresponds to the final of Big Brother 1with a share 70.8%medium. Three finalists arrived until July 21, but only one, the Cadiz Ismael Beiro, achieved victory, ahead of Ania Iglesias and Iván Armesto.
Such was the impact of the format, which both the 1 and Antena 3 were forced to talk about the program and its protagonists. Big Brother in such a way the world and Spanish television, which The rest of the chains began to look in the international market similar formats with whom trying to repeat that overwhelming success.
Life live
Although few remember it, that first broadcast lasted for such two hours. The program began at half past nine at night and ended before midnight. “Welcome to Big Brotherwelcome to life live “said an enthusiastic Mercedes Milá. “They are, at this time, half past nine on April 23 (Sant Jordi); a date that there are people who think, will mark a before and after in the history of television in Spain. If it were so, I frankly confess that I am very proud to be tonight here. If that were … I do not say it will be.”
The presenter was not wrong. Big Brother He arrived in Spain, to Telecinco, to stay. From that day, the spectators widely supported the program, with an impressive monitoring that was gradually more. The phenomenon Big Brother I had just taken off. Gone were the controversies arising on the limits of ethics and morals on television.
“There are people who tell us: ‘What is this? A sociological experiment? A 100% real television serial?” Mercedes Mila revealed. “What we tell you is … judge yourself.” The presenter asked the spectators to take out their own conclusions, not to influence others. GH quickly became a audience success and, above all, a authentic social phenomenon at a time when social networks still did not exist.
“Today’s is a special program. Normally, you and I will see each other on Wednesday nightbut today is the day we are going to meet the ten participants of GH“Mercedes Milá said, the first driver who had the format in Spain.” For 90 days, we will follow the steps of 10 people, who do not know anything, who have decided to freely live in a house, observed by 29 television cameras. ”
On that occasion, There were 7,000 people who signed up for casting of a program that everyone seemed to talk badly. From that first casting, Ismael Beiro, Ania Iglesias, Iván Armesto, Marina Díez, Vanessa Pascual, Jorge Berrocal, Nacho Rodríguez, Silvia Casado, Israel Pita and María José Galera. They were the first contestants of the history of Big Brother, the first people of our country who voluntarily decided to give up their intimacy to live an unrepeatable experience. After several abandonments, the program reopened the doors of the house to four reservations: Koldo Sagastizabal, Mabel Garrido, Iñigo González and Mónica Ruiz.
The entrance of the contestants in that edition was produced jointlybeing the co -present Fernando perhaps the person who accompanied them to the very entrance door. It should be remembered that the first Big Brother It was built in just two months in a ship located in Soto del Real.
The great milestones
– 32 editions issued by Mediaset Spain among all versions of the format -19 of Anonymous, eight from GH VIPthree of GH and two of GH: The reunion-, with a total of 547 contestants.
– In these 25 years, the house of Big Brother Spain has hosted 3,100 days of coexistence (which would be equivalent to 8 and a half years of uninterrupted life), 434 weekly tests, 375 expulsions and 60 romances.
– A total of 9,909,000 million viewers (54.3%) followed the gala of GH 1 that Telecinco issued on May 17, 2000, turned into the most watched broadcast in the story of GH. It took place the expulsion by the audience of Israel and the immediate decision by Silvia, with which he had initiated a romantic relationship inside the house, to leave the contest together.
– 20 million pesetas was the prize received by the winner of the first edition, Ismael Beiro. During that first coexistence, each contestant had an assignment of 500 pesetas per day.
– After 24 of his 25 years celebrating coexistence in the already mythical house of Guadalix de la Sierra, this year the house moves to a new location.
– Since its launch in Holland in September 1999, Big Brother He has always been broadcast somewhere in the world, except in 99 days. Since January 12, 2004, he has constantly been in the air.
– Big Brother It has 70 adaptations to date, with more than 600 seasons and 36,000 episodes produced. The last territories to join have been Kosovo, Malta and Chile. 2024 was the best year in history to Big Brotherwith 35 editions issued in 28 markets. Six versions in local languages are produced annually in India.
– More than 10,000 contestants have lived for more than 52,000 days in the house.
– In 2005, the fifth edition in the Netherlands hosted the arrival of the first baby in a house in Big Brother.
– Big Brother It adds more than 113 million followers on social networks worldwide.
