Day 8: Tuwang-tuwa si Andrea sa sinabi ni Jie-Ann December 13, 2020 | PBB Update
Channel: PBB Update
Date: 17/12/2020

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Day 8: Tuwang-tuwa si Andrea sa sinabi ni Jie-Ann December 13, 2020 | PBB Update

As ABS-CBN's flagship channel ABS-CBN ceased its free-to-air broadcast operations as ordered by the NTC on May 5, 2020, Pinoy Big Brother along with its other shows, as well as the network's talents found an uncertain future as a result, and fans voiced their dismay of the shut down of the country's largest TV network on social media, especially on Twitter.

Many PBB fans panicked over the show's possible cancellation as some of ABS-CBN's shows have been cancelled due to both COVID-19 Pandemic and the network's shut down. However, Pinoy Big Brother immediately assured via its affiliated twitter fan page that the hit reality series will still air its future seasons, and a ninth season is officially set to air soon, although no further information was given. The twitter post stated, "Meron pang Season 9 ang PBB. Babalik po Kami." (eng. "There's going to be a Season 9 of PBB. We will return")
After over a year since Otso ended, ABS-CBN officially announced a new season on October 18, 2020 through the Sunday musical variety show ASAP Natin 'To, which has been airing on Kapamilya Channel since the network launched the new cable channel on June 13, 2020 as a result of ABS-CBN shutdown. On ASAP, Big Brother officially introduced the audition mechanics for the season's online casting as well as the season's official name, Pinoy Big Brother Connect. 

Marcus Vinuya, one of the show's head producers explained via Instagram that the edition's name is related to the quarantine and the pandemic the Filipinos and the world have been experiencing throughout 2020, "We have all been quarantined and isolated for the past 7 months. But we are humans! It’s time to get connected!"

In an interview with TV Patrol's MJ Felipe, Production Unit Head and the Head Director Laurenti Dyogi revealed that the PBB Production Team are moving at a double time on choosing the rightful cast for this season. Dyogi also stated "This is a very unplanned season. We didn't plan to have 'PBB' now but for some, probably because of fate, and the partnership with Kumu, we were given a chance to have 'PBB," referring to launching of the ninth season in the middle of a pandemic