Survivor has gone through many iterations, but a recent one has been very popular with fans, for good reason. This new format will continue into the foreseeable future.
For Survivor 45, CBS aired 90-minute episodes due to the dearth of original programming due to the writers' and actors' strikes that shut down production of shows. Seasons 45 and 46 of the long-running reality show had been filmed before the strike. CBS had time slots to fill and it was a great solution.
Evidently, Jeff Probst had been wanting to extend the air time for Survivor for some time, according to an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
"Yes. I actually had been pitching CBS for probably five years, "Let us try 90 minutes!" And they were always reluctant because that's a long episode and you're never sure when it's too much. But back in October, CBS came to us and said, "Okay, you got your wish. We'll do one season of 90-minute episodes and we'll see how it goes.""Jeff Probst
Well, the results of the extended episodes have been fantastic.
90-minute episodes returning for Survivor 47 and Survivor 48
Obviously, the fans have loved the longer format and CBS has listened. When CBS announced the upcoming fall schedule, 90-minute episodes of Survivor 47 is going to be paired with another 90-minute reality show called The Summit. In the spring of 2025, Survivor 48 will be paired with season 37 of The Amazing Race, again with 90-minute episodes.
For fans, it has been a terrific change. Often, the normal 60-minute episodes felt too hurried and it always felt as if the audience was missing things. Viewers weren't getting to know players very well, especially in the early stages of each season with three tribes.
Under the new format, there is more time for audiences to get to know each player and to see more activity around the camps. Surviving Tribal wrote earlier in the season how much enjoyment the longer episodes were adding for fans. Those things haven't changed.
Whether it was because CBS listened to fans, or finally gave Probst his wish, or if it is just a way to save money by having one less show they need to air, fans can rejoice in the fact Survivor will air 90-minute episodes for the foreseeable future and that is a great thing.