Survivor 45 Gets Supersized 90-Minute Episodes Fall 2023

There's no denying that Survivor is a stalwart pillar of the CBS network, and not even the rampant COVID pandemic, which played havoc with the production of countless films and shows, managed to dampen its momentum. Consequently, when the renewal of Survivor for Season 45 (2023–24) was announced, few people were surprised.

At this stage, there's a half-joking expectation amongst fans that Survivor will, fittingly enough, survive until Season 100.

However, CBS' recent announcement regarding its schedule for the coming year had one slightly surprising twist. This season, Survivor will feature super-sized, 90-minute episodes. While the series has seen its share of 90-minute episodes in the past, these were typically reserved for special events such as season premieres and finales. An entire season of super-sized episodes is a first in the show's history.

The fans have greeted this news with enthusiasm. For instance, the consensus on Reddit (judging by upvotes) seems to be encapsulated by the sentiment: 'I am really excited, I hope it pays off.' Indeed, fans have been clamouring for a switch to 90-minute episodes for a considerable length of time.

Interestingly, the bulk of the negative reactions towards this development come from those anticipating it to be a temporary measure. The argument is that, due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, CBS requires shows that don't necessitate scriptwriting to fill the broadcasting schedule.

During the 2007-2008 strike, a multitude of reality shows were launched or abruptly granted more funding and premium time slots. Consequently, there's a belief that once the strike is resolved, Survivor will likely revert to its standard episode length.

Some fans have countered by pointing out that rumours of a whole season of super-sized episodes were circulating long before the strike, and if longer episodes boost the show’s ratings, CBS may decide to stick with the new format.

At present, we can only adopt a 'wait and see' stance to determine who will be vindicated in their predictions. Besides the increased episode length, there was little else in the CBS announcement that could be classified as new or sensational information about Survivor.

The series will continue its Wednesday airing, and it's expected that Season 45 will likely make its debut this coming September, a standard for odd-numbered Survivor seasons. So fans should tune in at the usual time, 8 pm EST, Wednesdays.

Source: Reddit.