Today in Television History (August 23rd, 2000): America Tunes In To Watch as Richard Hatch is Named "Sole Survivor" of "Survivor: Borneo"!

On August 23rd, 2000, the season finale of "Survivor" Season 1 aired on CBS! During the season, sixteen contestants were separated into two tribes, and periodically voted their peers off during "Tribal Council". The season was won by Richard Hatch, defeating Kelly Wiglesworth in a 4-3 jury vote. The finale of the season averaged 51.7 million viewers, the highest of the whole "Survivor" franchise. Nielsen reported that 125 million people had tuned in to watch at least some part of the finale. In 2006, winner Richard Hatch was sentenced to 51 months in prison, after refusing to pay taxes on his $1,000,000 winnings. "Survivor" is going into its 47th season in September 2024.