"Is Mole Leaking 'Survivor' Winner?"<warning-article contains possible spoiler info>

[Minnow]

Is Mole Leaking 'Survivor' Winner?

Associated Press

An offshore bookie who takes wagers on the outcome of CBS' "Survivor" decided not to take bets on Thursday, suspicious that someone who knows the winner is spreading inside information.

The reality series, which premiered its seventh edition from Pearl Island on Thursday, has been relatively free of security problems despite an Internet cottage industry in guessing winners and losers.

The Antigua-based company, BetWWTS.com, has taken bets from as many as 1,000 people for past editions of "Survivor," consistently television's most popular reality game.

The company rarely does any action with "Survivor" before the show gets on the air. Betting usually heats up after the show has been on for at least a month and viewers get to know the characters, said Simon Noble, the company's CEO.

"If we get five bets (before the game), I'd be stunned," Noble said. "Nobody can relate to any of the contestants or develop a strong opinion."

Yet in the past few days, the company took more than 15 bets on the same contestant, all from people who lived near each other in Vancouver, British Columbia, he said. The company shut the game down.

Noble wouldn't identify the contestant they were betting on, but said it was a woman who lives near Vancouver.

The CBS Web site identifies one contestant, Sandra Diaz-Twine, as living in Fort Lewis, Wash. She's a 29-year-old U.S. Army veteran who now works as an office assistant. She's married with two children.

On the Web site, Diaz-Twine says she believes she's a contender to win "Survivor" because of her ability to improvise and knowledge of hunting.

CBS spokesman Chris Ender pointed out that although filming for the "Pearl Island" game is complete, the results are sealed.

"The truth is, only ("Survivor" executive producer) Mark Burnett and a couple of CBS executives know who won," he said. "Certainly, Mr. Burnett doesn't need the money you could win from an offshore bookmaker."

As for whether someone is trying to profit on inside information, Ender said, "we'll know for sure in December."

"Everyone in America likes to speculate on who won `Survivor,'" he said. "It's become sort of a pop culture sport."

Twice before the bookmaker has had to suspend betting on a reality game. Once, for ABC's "The Bachelor," it received a large number of bets from the bachelor's hometown on the woman he eventually chose as the winner.

For the Amazon edition of "Survivor" last spring, the company suspended betting a month before the televised finale because of a concentration of wagers on two contestants, including the eventual winner, 21-year-old swimsuit model Jenna Morasca.

Another offshore bookmaker, BoDog.com, suspended betting last spring after allegedly finding at least two CBS employees betting on the show's outcome.

link to previous survivor thread

[Minnow]

For anyone who cares the premiere episode is being rerun tonight on CBS.

[Dell Dude]

"The truth is, only ("Survivor" executive producer) Mark Burnett and a couple of CBS executives know who won," he said. "Certainly, Mr. Burnett doesn't need the money you could win from an offshore bookmaker."

Garbage in, garbage out. Probably over 100 people had direct knowledge who won after filming ended, and then that number multiplies when everyoone comes home. It's the same bald faced lying that Big Brother did when they tried to convince its viewers the ex boyfriend's and girlfriend's were a complete surprise to the original 8 houseguests.

I like both shows, but I don't like being treated like an idiot. Sandra is the winner. Spread the word.

[Total Square]

this will be the end of the survivor phenomena

[Minnow]

TS, In the tradition of TV shows that have scored high in ratings, I think they will bleed it for as long as they can, despite the leaks. One thing I'm curious to see is the "all-star survivor" concept show they have been kicking around. Will they allow winners from previous shows to play? Have public voting for favorite contenders, losers and winners alike?
I dunno.. it's getting kind of boring, yet I still like to watch it.

[PatPerez]

The whole idea of betting on this type of stuff is GAY in my opinion.

The last thing I want to see at a sportsbook are odds on survivor, the emmys, and Kobe Bryant. Tasteless publicity fluff and B.S.

Spend your time on the real games please.