Expect the Unexpected: Bell Media Resurrects 'Big Brother Canada' for CTV and Crave in Massive Franchise Takeover
It is a rule as old as the show itself: Expect the unexpected!
Two years ago, June 27, 2024, was a dark day for Canadian television fans as Corus Entertainment officially pulled the plug on Big Brother Canada after 12 incredible seasons, leaving a massive diary-room-sized void in our spring viewing schedules. For The TV Watercooler, I had been there for every single backdoor, double eviction, and slop-induced meltdown since Season 1 premiered on Slice back in 2013. For myself, having watched the U.S. Big Brother since the beginning and covering it professionally since 2012, saying goodbye to our homegrown version felt like the end of an era.
But in the world of reality TV, you’re never truly evicted until the check clears.
In a blockbuster announcement today, Bell Media revealed they have officially become the new Head of Household. Following a major deal with Banijay Rights, Bell Media is reviving Big Brother Canada for a brand-new season slated for Spring 2027, where it will air across CTV and stream on Crave.
But that is only half of the story. In a seismic media shakeup, Bell Media has also stripped Corus Entertainment’s Global TV of the rights to the American flagship series. Starting in Summer 2027, the Julie Chen Moonves-hosted Big Brother U.S.A. will leave its lifelong Canadian home at Global – where it has aired since its very inception in 2000 – and make its new home on CTV and Crave.
A Massive Media Power Move
The writing was on the wall earlier this month, when Corus announced that the upcoming 2026 summer season of Big Brother (Season 28) would be the last to air on Global. With Corus struggling to maintain its footprint amid shifting audiences and financial constraints, Bell Media has swooped in to consolidate the entire Big Brother universe under one Canadian roof.
Justin Stockman, Bell Media’s Vice-President of Global Content, noted that competition reality formats like The Traitors and Love Island absolutely “kill it” on streaming while maintaining massive live-viewing numbers on traditional television. By pairing CTV’s broadcast reach with Crave’s streaming power, Bell Media is betting big on the staying power of the world’s ultimate social experiment.
A New House, a New House, and a New Production Team
When Big Brother Canada returns in 2027, it’s going to look and feel completely different. Bell Media is introducing a creative overhaul to ensure the show is sustainable for the long run:
· The Move to Montreal: Production is moving out of Toronto. The new season will be produced by Entourage, the Quebec production powerhouse behind the massive smash hit Big Brother Célébrités (which brought in nearly 4.7 million views on Crave and Noovo this past winter) and The Traitors Canada. The previous incarnation of BBCAN was produced by Insight Productions.
· A Sustainable Set: Rather than building and updating a multi-million dollar set from scratch in Toronto every single year, the new version will utilize the pre-existing, state-of-the-art Big Brother Célébrités infrastructure in Montreal.
· A New Host: In a major changing of the guard, Canadian television personality and CTV’s The Social co-host Andrea Bain has been named the new host of Big Brother Canada. Bain steps into the iconic shoes of Arisa Cox, who masterfully and lovingly guided the series through its first 12 seasons and became a definitive voice and champion of the franchise.
Binge the Back Catalogue
For the superfans who have been desperate to rewatch classic BBCAN seasons (including the infamous final vote in the first season or Ika shredding the houseguests’ letters from home), Bell Media has answered your prayers. As part of the acquisition, the entire 12-season back catalogue of Big Brother Canada will be dropped onto Crave, allowing fans to stream old episodes alongside the expansive French-language Big Brother Célébrités library.
The TV Watercooler Verdict
Having spent the last 14 years analyzing veto meetings, interviewing evictees, and tracking alliances, I cannot overstate how monumental this news is for the Canadian media landscape. While it will certainly take some time to adjust to a new host and a new production style, the fact that Big Brother Canada is alive and well is a massive victory for Canadian crew members, storytellers, and fans across the country.
Casting details and official premiere dates for the Spring 2027 revival will be released in the coming months. Rest assured, The TV Watercooler will be locked into the live feeds – and, fingers crossed, will bring you exclusive coverage every single step of the way.
Welcome back, BBCAN. The game is officially back on.
