<P> Big Brother is a television reality game show based on an originally Dutch TV series of the same name created by producer John de Mol in 1997 . The series follows a group of contestants, known as HouseGuests, who are living together in a custom - built home under constant surveillance . The HouseGuests are completely isolated from the outside world and can have no communication with those not in the house . The contestants are competing for a $500,000 grand prize, with weekly competitions and evictions determining who will win the show . The series takes its name from the character in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty - Four (1984). The series launched on July 5, 2000 to a successful start, though ratings and critical reaction continued to grow increasingly negative . This led to the second season being a revamp of the show, featuring a more competition - based challenge . The series has since continued to be a hit for CBS, and is the second longest - running adaptation of the series to date, after the Spanish adaptation . </P> <P> The series currently has two spin - offs: Big Brother: Over The Top, which was the first reality game show to air exclusively on a streaming platform airing in Fall 2016 on CBS's streaming service, CBS All Access; and Celebrity Big Brother, set to air on CBS in early 2018 . </P> <P> CBS also renewed the series for a 19th and 20th season . The 19th season premiered on June 28, 2017, while the 20th season is expected to air in the summer of 2018 . </P> <P> The series was bought by CBS in early 2000 for an estimated $20 million . The United States version of the series officially premiered on July 5, 2000 when the original ten housemates entered the house . Since its inception, the show has been hosted by television personality Julie Chen . It is produced by Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan for Fly on the Wall Entertainment and Endemol Shine North America (formerly Endemol USA). The success of the series has spawned several spin - offs . The series airs once a year, during the summer, with the exception of the ninth season which aired in spring of 2008 and the Over the Top spinoff series broadcasting in fall 2016 . Currently, 19 seasons of the show have aired, along with one digital season . The show has aired a total of 545 episodes since it premiered, with the September 5, 2013 airing marking the 500th episode . To date, there have been a total of 253 HouseGuests compete in the series . Upon entering the house, the HouseGuests who leave the house without permission are not allowed to return . Should a HouseGuest break the rules set in the house, they can be expelled from the house . To date, there have been a total of four HouseGuests expelled from the house because of acts of violence and / or rule - breaking . There have only been three HouseGuests who have voluntarily left the game for reasons relating to personal matters . </P>

How many seasons of big brother are there
find me the text answering this question