History of Big Brother: Over the Top in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 17, 2026

Big Brother: Over the Top (BBOTT) was a unique, digital-only spin-off of the long-running reality competition series Big Brother, airing exclusively on CBS All Access in 2016. Unlike the traditional broadcast version, this iteration featured an abbreviated 65-day format and intense audience interactivity. Viewers were granted unprecedented influence, allowing them to vote on nominations, select the third nominee, and ultimately determine the winner of the $250,000 grand prize. The season was characterized by the absence of a live studio audience, a 24/7 uncensored live feed, and the introduction of 'America’s Nominee,' which forced houseguests to adapt their social strategies to cater to fan sentiment rather than just their peers. Morgan Willett was crowned the winner, defeating Jason Roy in a public vote. The experiment served as a precursor to the modern integration of social media and streaming in reality television, prioritizing direct fan engagement over traditional network scheduling.

2015: First Chinese Season of Big Brother

In 2015, the first season of the Chinese version of Big Brother aired, which served as a historical precedent as a pre-recorded show broadcast exclusively online, marking the second such online-only season after the developments discussed for Big Brother: Over the Top.

August 3, 2016: Official Announcement of Big Brother: Over the Top

On August 3, 2016, CBS officially announced the production of the spin-off series Big Brother: Over the Top while the eighteenth season of the flagship show was still airing.

September 26, 2016: Announcement of Big Brother: Over the Top HouseGuests

On September 26, 2016, 12 of the 13 HouseGuests for Big Brother: Over the Top were officially revealed, featuring sisters Alex and Morgan Willett. Additionally, it was announced that the 13th participant would be a returning player from a previous season, and the public voted to have Jason Roy, who competed on Big Brother 17, enter the house.

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September 28, 2016: Premiere of Big Brother: Over the Top

On September 28, 2016, the reality television spin-off Big Brother: Over the Top officially premiered, airing exclusively on the digital platform CBS All Access.

December 1, 2016: Big Brother: Over the Top Season Finale

The 65-day run of Big Brother: Over the Top concluded with its season finale on December 1, 2016, broadcast through the CBS All Access streaming service.