With the scrapping of the television broadcast operations of ABS-CBN by the NTC on May 5, 2020,[4] the continuity of the local Big Brother franchise was left uncertain.

[5] On the 18th of October in 2020, on ASAP Natin 'To!, it was officially announced that a new season would air as Pinoy Big Brother: Connect.

[6] ABS-CBN's Television Production Head Unit and the Head Director of the Pinoy Big Brother franchise, Direk Lauren Dyogi, revealed in an interview of an episode of TV Patrol that Pinoy Big Brother: Connect would push through in November 2020, although the exact date was not mentioned.

[8] Dyogi also revealed that the ninth season to take place at the current situation of the network and of the country was unplanned, and that it had only prospered after the show had partnered with Kumu.

However, it was later confirmed via online PBB: KUMUlitan show with Robi Domingo and Lie Reposposa that 18 aspiring housemates will be taking part this season.

[10] Pinoy Big Brother: Connect was first revealed during the October 18, 2020, episode of ASAP Natin 'To!, along with new audition mechanics for this newest season.

Afterwards, they were required to upload their audition video on Kumu and use the hashtag #PBBkumuaudition; a maximum of one entry per account will be accepted.

If an auditionee was accepted as one of the shortlisted hopefuls, they will receive a message from a PBB executive via Kumu's texting service.

[17][18] Pinoy Big Brother: Connect had some notable changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, which forced the country's government to impose restrictions to mitigate the spread of the said virus.

Prior to the premiere of Pinoy Big Brother: Connect on December 6, 2020, the Pinoy Big Brother house was thoroughly disinfected, the hosts, crew, and the housemates of the show also went onto a PCR testing, and social distancing was also being observed inside the house as a preventive measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[21] The show aired daily on Mondays to Fridays at 10:00 p.m. after Walang Hanggang Paalam, on Saturdays at 10:00 p.m. after Maalaala Mo Kaya, and on Sundays at 8:30 p.m. after Your Face Sounds Familiar.

Also, in this season, evictions regularly occurred on Sundays, while the lists of nominees were usually revealed on Mondays or Tuesdays.

The winner of this season won a unit from PHirst Park Homes and a cash prize of ₱1,000,000 from Brilliant Skin Essentials.

[2] This was the first season where the show was not aired on ABS-CBN after the network was ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission to cease and desist its free-to-air television and radio broadcast operations on May 5, 2020, following the lapse of its congressional franchise.

As a punishment or as a consequence, Big Brother can automatically nominate additional housemates if they had incurred violations or have failed a specific task.

The Pinoy Big Brother house was refurnished with new furniture in the living room, the bedroom, and the dining area.

There were no major changes in the house interior, which still follows the original layout used in Pinoy Big Brother: Otso.

[31] The season's eviction theme song was performed, written, and produced by Jem Macatuno entitled "Bagong Simula."

Both songs are included in the album "Connected Na Tayo (Ang Soundtrack Ng Bahay Mo Vol.

Three of the additional housemates were already pre-selected and were completing their own isolation periods before their entry, including one from France whose travel to the Philippines in order to compete was facilitated by the production staff.

The 9 remaining hopefuls were then divided in groups based on their traits, namely Matatag (Steadfast), Madiskarte (Resourceful), and Malakas ang Loob (Courageous).

The diamonds (in-app gifting currency) they will earn from livestreaming can be used to purchase supplies for their tasks or to pay for minutes to practice their routines, to name a few.

In order of performance: If they will successfully transfer all the ping-pong balls within the period set by Big Brother, they will win their weekly budget.

Padaluck recipient: Andrea (will have to answer three questions only) At the end of all the challenges, the last two standing housemates will become Heads of Household for two weeks.

Moments before the challenge, Big Brother announced that those housemates who had received any number of medal in the advantage twist may also help those other housemates who gave them their medals; they were all asked by Big Brother if they will help, but only Chico decided to take one of Jie-Ann's balls and place it in his own container, leaving Jie-Ann with 19 balls at the start of the challenge.

During this part, audio clips of ex-housemate Justin were played to distract the housemates while they attempted to get the sum of the numbers.

Once the table top is transferred while keeping the 14 cup tower intact, he or she will need to push the buzzer in order to end the challenge.

The finale also featured several guests, including past Pinoy Big Brother winners such as Nene Tamayo of Season 1, Bea Saw of Season 2, Ruben Gonzaga of Celebrity Edition 2, Ejay Falcon of Teen Edition Plus, Slater Young of Unlimited, Daniel Matsunaga of All In, Jimboy Martin of 737 Teens and Yamyam Gucong of Otso and other former housemates.

[100][101] Star Music together with ABS-CBN created an album for this season entitled Connected Na Tayo (Ang Soundtrack Ng Bahay Mo Vol.

Tracks in this album are mostly composed by Otso ex-housemates Lie Reposposa, Shawntel Cruz, Jem Macatuno, and Kiara Takahashi, which includes this season's theme song and carrier track "Connected Na Tayo" and eviction theme song "Bagong Simula".