Big Brother has been on TV for about 25–26 years, with the original Dutch version launching in 1999 and the U.S. version premiering in 2000.

How long Big Brother has been on

  • The original Big Brother format started in the Netherlands in late 1999, kicking off the global franchise.
  • The American Big Brother series premiered on CBS on July 5, 2000, and has aired almost every year since, making it one of the longest‑running versions.
  • As of early 2026, that means the Big Brother format has been on TV for roughly 26 years, and the U.S. version for about 25 years.

Quick Scoop

  • The show began as a social experiment: strangers living together, filmed 24/7, with the outside world voting or competing them out.
  • Over time, Big Brother evolved into more of a strategy competition, especially in the U.S., with elaborate twists and game mechanics.
  • The franchise has spawned many international editions (UK, Australia, and more), but the U.S. version is now the longest‑running adaptation still on air.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.