CBS to Charge for ‘Big Brother’ Webcasts

Hours before starting a second season of “Big Brother,” CBS announced plans to charge for its 24-hour Web broadcasts from the set. The charge--apparently the first for a network series--drew a swift outcry from fans online, who flooded a bulletin board with complaints.

Viewers who want to tune in the four online feeds must pay a one-time fee of $19.95 or get a GoldPass subscription from RealNetworks for $9.95 a month.

The unscripted show, which CBS plans to air three times a week this summer, follows the exploits of a dozen strangers confined to a house under constant surveillance. The network offered similar around-the-clock Webcasts during last year’s debut season, but viewers did not have to pay for them.