The final pieces of the summer-TV picture are set:
CBS’ “Big Brother” (shown here) and “The Challenge: USA” will fill prime time on July 6. They’ll continue to be back-to-back on Wednesdays, while “Big Brother” also sprawls to Thursdays and Sundays.
Other broadcast networks have already started many of the season’s shows. The key summer players tend to be NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” (8-10 p.m. Tuesdays) and “American Ninja Warrior” (8-10 p.m. Mondays, starting June 6); ABC’s “The Bachelorette” (8-10 p.m. Mondays, starting July 11) and “Celebrity Family Feud” (8 p.m. Sundays, starting July 10); and Fox’s “MasterChef” and “So You Think You Can Dance” (8 and 9 p.m. Wednesdays).
(New scripted episodes are primarily on streamers and pay-cable, plus CW and, starting June 19, PBS. A separate story has a round-up of summer broadcast and basic-cable shows.)
Now CBS adds its shows:
— “Big Brother” starts its 24th season. For each of the past five years, CBS says, it has been in the top-10 in summer ratings and in the top-5 for ages 25-54. Julie Chen Moonves continues to host, with episodes at 9 p.m. Thursdays and 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.
— “The Challenge” has been an MTV series since 1998. Now it moves to CBS, which will use past contestants from “Survivor,” “Big Brother,” “Amazing Race” and “Love Island.” After its 90-minute debut (9:30 p.m. Wednesday July 6), it will be at 9 p.m. Wednesdays. T.J. Lavin hosts and the winner will compete in a “Challenge World Championship” on Paramount+.