Big Brother Season 28 Premiere Draws Strong Ratings For CBS

CBS has set a July premiere date for Big Brother Season 28, marking the start of what the network and several entertainment outlets are calling a historic new chapter for the long-running reality competition.

The announcement sets the schedule for the franchise’s 28th season on CBS. Big Brother, which follows a cast of contestants living together under constant surveillance while competing for power and evictions, has been a summer staple for the network for years and remains one of its signature unscripted properties.

Season 28 will also include a programming add-on: Big Brother: Unlocked is returning, according to multiple reports. The network’s plans position the companion installment as part of the season’s overall rollout, expanding the Big Brother footprint beyond the core weekly episodes.

The premiere date and the inclusion of Unlocked represent a notable commitment from CBS to keep Big Brother as a centerpiece of its summer lineup. Setting the timing early gives advertisers, affiliates, and viewers a clear start point for a franchise that typically unfolds across multiple nights each week.

This development matters because Big Brother’s format relies on momentum: early-week competitions, shifting alliances, and frequent strategy turns are built to drive continuous viewing. Adding a companion element can widen that weekly rhythm, offering additional content tied to the main game while keeping audiences engaged between eviction nights and competition episodes.

It also underscores the scale CBS is aiming for with Season 28. Several entertainment outlets described the upcoming season as the “biggest” yet, language that signals an expanded presentation even as the core premise stays intact. CBS has not detailed all of the changes in the announcement coverage cited here, but the return of Unlocked indicates at least one concrete expansion to the season’s on-air package.

Next steps will likely include CBS releasing further programming specifics tied to the July premiere, including episode cadence and additional information about how Big Brother: Unlocked will be incorporated alongside the main series. As the premiere approaches, viewers can also expect the usual pre-season rollout typical of the franchise, including more details that frame the season’s launch.

For now, the key takeaway is clear: Big Brother is officially returning in July for its 28th season on CBS, with Unlocked coming back as part of the season’s broader plan.