Survivor (American TV series)
American reality competition series based on the Swedish format.
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The American adaptation of the global *Survivor* franchise, itself based on the Swedish series *Expedition Robinson* (created by Charlie Parsons and debuting in 1997), first aired on CBS on May 31, 2000. Jeff Probst serves as both host and executive producer, alongside Mark Burnett and Parsons. The show strands a group of individuals in a remote location, tasking them with securing their own food, fire, and shelter. Contestants face challenges that test physical skills like running and swimming or mental abilities such as puzzles and endurance, competing for rewards and immunity from elimination. Players are gradually voted out by their peers until only two or three remain. The eliminated contestants then form a jury to select the winner, who receives the title "Sole Survivor" and a $1,000,000 grand prize.
The series achieved significant success, with its first eleven seasons ranking among the top ten most-watched shows from the 2000–01 through 2005–06 television seasons. It is widely regarded as a pioneer of American reality television, being the first highly rated and profitable reality program on broadcast TV in the United States and is often named among the best shows of the 2000s. The show has earned 63 Emmy nominations, winning for Outstanding Sound Mixing in 2001 and Outstanding Special Class Program in 2002, and received four subsequent nominations for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program after the category was introduced in 2003. Probst won Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program four consecutive times starting in 2008. In 2007, *Time* magazine included it on its list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time, and in 2013, *TV Guide* ranked it 39th on its "60 Best Series of All Time" list.
**Format and rules**
The first American season followed the Swedish format closely. Sixteen or more players, divided into two or more tribes, are taken to a remote tropical location and must survive for 39 days (42 in *The Australian Outback*, 26 in post-COVID seasons) with minimal supplies.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Reality competition
- Runtime
- 43 minutes (seasons 1–44) / 64 minutes (season 45–present)
- Creator
- Charlie Parsons
- Based On
- Expedition Robinson · Charlie Parsons
- Presenter
- Jeff Probst
- Starring
- Survivor contestants
- Executive Producer
- Mark Burnett · Charlie Parsons · Jeff Probst
- Theme Music Composer
- Russ Landau
- Composer
- David Vanacore
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Network
- CBS
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The original idea of Survivor was developed by Charlie Parsons under the name Survive. It took ten years and many development teams to develop it, but main TV networks in both Britain and America turned it down. Only when Parsons went to Swedish television was he able to find a broadcaster, ultimately producing Expedition Robinson in 1997, the most popular show of Swedish television that year. Mark Burnett intended to bring the show to the United States, retooling the concept to use better production values based on his prior Eco-Challenge show, and wanted to focus more on the human drama experienced while under pressure. On November 24, 1999, Burnett made his pitch to Les Moonves of CBS, and Moonves agreed to pick up the show. The first season, Survivor: Borneo, was filmed during March and April 2000, and first broadcast on May 31, 2000.
The American version places a group of people in an isolated location, where they must provide food, fire, and shelter for themselves. Contestants compete in challenges testing physical abilities like running and swimming or mental abilities like puzzles and endurance for rewards and immunity from elimination. Contestants are progressively eliminated by vote until only two or three remain, at which point the eliminated contestants vote for the winner, who receives the title 'Sole Survivor' and the grand prize of $1,000,000. The series has introduced numerous modifications or 'twists' on the core rules, including hidden immunity idols, tribal switches, Redemption Island, Edge of Extinction, and a final four fire-making challenge as of season 35.
Reader's Guide
Survivor has been highly successful, with its first 11 seasons from the 2000–01 through the 2005–06 television seasons rating among the top 10 most-watched shows. It is commonly considered the leader of American reality TV because it was the first highly rated and profitable reality show on broadcast television in the United States, and is considered one of the best shows of the 2000s. The series has been nominated for 63 Emmy Awards, including winning for Outstanding Sound Mixing in 2001, Outstanding Special Class Program in 2002, and was subsequently nominated four times for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program when the category was introduced in 2003. Jeff Probst won the award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program four consecutive times after the award was introduced in 2008. In 2007, the series was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time. In 2013, TV Guide ranked it at No. 39 on its list of the '60 Best Series of All Time'. On January 22, 2026, ahead of the season 50 premiere, the show was renewed for a 51st and 52nd season, with the 51st season premiering on September 23, 2026. A total of 751 contestants have competed on Survivor's 50 seasons.
Did You Know?
- The American version premiered on May 31, 2000, on CBS.
- The grand prize is typically $1,000,000, but was set at $2 million for the all-winner edition Winners at War.
- On January 22, 2026, the show was renewed for a 51st and 52nd season, with the 51st premiering on September 23, 2026.
More in Nielsen ratings winners 1-24
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