• by July 17, 2000

The Internet ratings report for the week ending July 9 from Nielsen//NetRatings shows that the site for CBS's reality-based television show, Big Brother, peaked in daily audience traffic on Thursday, July 13 with 574,000 home visitors, a week after the show's premiere.

Although many media outlets have noted the show's lower than expected numbers for television viewers, Nielsen//NetRatings' Overnight Analysis reveals that the site soared 214% in daily unique audience this past Thursday, when the "voting-off" of cast members was determined.

"Though Big Brother's daily unique audience numbers over the course of the first week may suggest a slight cooling-off in overall interest, the spike in traffic during the second week is proof positive of the show's viability," said TS Kelly, director of Internet Media Strategies, NetRatings.

"Big Brother, like sister show Survivor, has delivered another welcome shot of youth and vitality to the CBS Network, both online and off."