German 'Big Brother' to return for new run

The German version of Big Brother will return for a new season towards the end of the year, it has been confirmed.

The current, sixth season will end this Sunday after almost a year. Big Brother - Das Dorf (The Village) was billed as "neverending" but was given the axe by broadcast network RTL2 amid poor ratings.

The network is far from tired of the format, however, and is already prepping a new season for this autumn. "It will be aired for between 100 and 200 days," confirmed Endemol chief Jaquim Agut in a conference call Thursday.

Meanwhile, German pay network Premiere is to air a BB spinoff show called Der Container. Beginning the same night that Das Dorf ends, Der Container will go completely "back to basics" and return to the traditional BB format. It will last 155 days and feature sixteen contestants, with the familiar pattern of nominations and evictions.