Endemol launching first-ever Canadian Big Brother

Producer and distributor Endemol has sold a local version of its Big Brother format into Canada for the first time.

The Canadian version of the show will be made by Endemol and local prodco Insight Productions. It will air on Shaw’s cable lifestyle channel Slice.

Shaw’s Global airs the US version of the hit format. The Canadian Big Brother will debut on Slice in the upcoming 2012/2013 season.

“Big Brother has become a worldwide phenomenon and we’re proud to team up with Endemol and Insight Productions to launch the fan favourite format in Canada,” said Barbara Williams, senior VP of Content, ShawMedia. “The production of this format is hugely exciting as it takes us into unchartered territory, filming live around-the-clock and enabling fans to interact with the series in ways we’ve never explored before.”

David Goldberg, chairman, Endemol North America said: “Global has been a great partner from the beginning, when they brought the US version of Big Brother to Canada 13 seasons ago. We look forward to seeing this proven format continue its home-grown success with the first-ever Canadian edition of the series.”

There are 25 local versions of Big Brother and in 2011 it aired in 87 countries.