MUMBAI: Television format creator and distributor Endemol has announced that the reality show ?Big Brother? is making a comeback in two more markets.

In Germany the show is returning for the first time since 2011 having been commissioned by Sat 1 for a new celebrity series, which will launch later this year. Endemol Germany previously produced 11 series of Big Brother for RTL2 starting in 2000.

In Portugal the show is returning to TVI for the first time in 10 years for a celebrity version that is due to launch soon. Endemol Portugal previously produced six series for the channel, which first broadcast the show in 2000.

Over 20 series were broadcast in over 60 countries last year. This announcement is the latest in a series of comebacks for the format, which has successfully returned in territories such as the UK, where the show is now an established hit on Channel 5 and Australia where having previously aired on Ten Network until 2008 the show?s return on Nine Network in August 2012 was a breakout hit.

In February it was also announced that Endemol India will launch two regional language productions of the format in addition to the long running national Hindi version.

Endemol MD creative operations Iris Boelhouwer said, "Most big formats tend to have a lifespan of around five years or so but ?Big Brother? has broken this rule more than twice over. The format is still a trailblazer, which continues to roll out in new territories and deliver hit ratings in the major markets. It?s here to stay."

?Big Brother?s most recent outing was in Brazil where the thirteenth and first ever 3D series wrapped up on Globo TV on 26 March.

MUMBAI: The fight between US broadcaster?s CBS and ABC over the latter?s show, ?The Glass House?, continues.

CBS had filed a temporary restraining order to prevent ABC from airing ?The Glass House?. ABC has now retaliated with a counterclaim in court.

ABC has urged a federal judge to reject efforts by CBS to block the premiere of the reality show. It has pointed out differences between the new show and CBS? ?Big Brother?.

CBS has said that it deserves a temporary restraining order because ABC has violated copyright and misappropriated trade secrets through the hiring of 30 former Big Brother employees, including showrunner Kenny Rosen, who was formerly a producer on ?Big Brother?.

ABC said that there was no conspiracy to hire away Big Brother employees. It also noted that in reality TV production, nearly everyone works as a freelancer. It also argued that it has spent $16 million promoting ?Glass House?, which would air after "The Bachelorette." Delaying the show?s premiere could cost nearly 150 people their jobs.

ABC has said that none of the alleged similarities shared by ?Big Brother? and ?The Glass House? involve copyright protectable element.

The show is due to start airing on ABC from 18 June. ?The Glass House? follows 14 contestants as they live together and compete for $250,000. Unlike ?Big Brother?, viewers can vote, manipulating different outcomes within the house.

MUMBAI: US broadcaster CBS has sued ABC over its new reality TV show, "The Glass House?.

CBS has said that ABC?s show is a "carbon copy" of ?Big Brother? and employs 19 former producers and staff from that show. The federal lawsuit seeks an injunction barring ABC from continuing its work or airing ?The Glass House?, a show that will film and allow viewers to vote off contestants living together in a house.

Reports though indicate that CBS will have to prove that ABC is infringing on a unique idea.

CBS? lawsuit states "In copying ?Big Brother,? defendants have had an unprecedented and troubling degree of access to CBS?s copyrightable expression, as well as CBS?s protected trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary information related to the behind-the-scenes development, filming and production of ?Big Brother".

ABC, though, said that there are obvious differences between the two shows.