July 23, 2002
CELEBRITY Big Brother has proved a ratings winner for Channel 10.
The first episode featuring eight identities, including boxer Anthony Mundine and radio DJ Kyle Sandilands, easily won its Sunday night spot with 2.294 million people tuning in nationally and more than 740,000 watching in Sydney.
Channel 9's Sunday staple of National Nine News, Changing Rooms and Location, Location were left to pick up the flotsam as the BB juggernaut continued.
It seems viewers have not tired of the Big Brother format despite the last series only ending last month. The rest of the ratings week threw up few surprises, but Nine's gamble on home-grown Aussie drama in McLeod's Daughters is paying off.
The series came 17th in the ratings nationally for last week.
However, the network's latest local drama Young Lions, starring Alex Dimitriades and Tom Long, ranked 68th overall with just over a million viewers.
Ten's Big Brother launch has been scheduled to rival Seven's expected Commonwealth Games boost.
Ten has not denied it is using Celebrity BB to draw viewers in what should have been a clear ratings winner for Seven. It has even moved the weeknight celebrity show from 7pm to 7.30pm when Commonwealth Games coverage is due to start each night.
The Daily Telegraph
