The season that ended the era of standard definition television

History · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2013, Big Brother 15 marked a pivotal technical shift for the reality juggernaut. While the social dynamics remained familiar, the broadcast moved toward a high-definition future, leaving behind the 4:3 standard definition format that had defined the show's visual history for years.

Premiering on June 26, 2013, and concluding on September 18, 2013, Big Brother 15 served as a bridge between eras. It was the final season of the American series to be broadcast in 4:3 standard definition. From this point forward, the production transitioned to high-definition television, reflecting a broader industry move toward sharper, more immersive viewing experiences for reality programming. The competition lasted for a total of 90 days. It aired on CBS and Global in Canada. Julie Chen returned as the host. The season finale lasted 90 minutes.

Despite the visual upgrade, the core mechanics of the game remained largely consistent with previous iterations. HouseGuests were sequestered with no outside contact, competing in weekly challenges for food, luxury, and power. The season introduced a notable expansion of the 'Jury' system; while previous seasons typically featured the last seven evicted HouseGuests as jurors, this season increased that number to nine, giving more players a voice in the final determination of the winner. Winners of the Head of Household competition gained a week of safety. They also had the power to nominate two people for eviction. If a Veto was used, the person who made the original nomination had to pick a replacement. HouseGuests who lost the Have-Not competition had to eat slop and sleep on airplane-style beds.

The season was also defined by the 'M.V.P.' twist, where the viewing public secretly chose one HouseGuest each week—ostensibly the best player—to nominate a third person for eviction. This power was kept secret from the other HouseGuests unless the M.V.P. chose to reveal it. This dynamic created a layer of hidden strategy, as seen when Elissa Slater became the first M.V.P. of the season on Day 5, and later secured the title for three consecutive weeks, significantly influencing the flow of nominations and evictions. The public also chose the third nominee during weeks four, five, and six. This specific twist was kept secret from the HouseGuests. During the first week, Jeremy won a special pass to avoid being a Have-Not. On Day 13, David became the first person to leave the house.

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