Fan Favorite Award

The Fan Favorite Award (later called Sprint Player Of The Season) is a special title earned by a contestant for being the most popular of his/her season. This contestant receives an extra prize that is separate from his/her talent fee from appearing from the show.

About
Before the finale, viewers vote for their favorite contestant of the season. At the Reunion Show, the winner is revealed, and he/she will receive an extra prize, apart from his/her Survivor winnings and appearance at the live show. The winner of the season is also eligible to win this award, which would increase his/her winnings further.

Survivor: America's Tribal Council
Please see, Survivor: America's Tribal Council.

The first fan favorite award was revealed during the Survivor: All-Stars reunion show, where the viewers voted for the most popular All-Star contestant. They also got the chance to vote for the most popular moments of the first eight seasons.

After a voting period which lasted for a week, a second reunion show was held, where Rupert Boneham was awarded the fan favorite award, earning himself $1,000,000, even though he technically did not win the actual competition. This format generated controversy among fans, calling it "unfair," for Boneham merely won a popularity contest, while he failed to win the title of Sole Survivor in both of his seasons.

Survivor: Panama and Cook Islands
Starting from Survivor Panama, viewers can vote for their favourite castaway for a chance to win a car. This award was also used in Survivor Cook Islands before being replaced by the Reward car challange in Survivor Fiji.

Sprint Player Of The Season
Starting from Survivor: China, viewers can vote for their favourite castaway to win an extra $100,000 sponsered by telecommunications company ''Sprint. ''

Trivia

 * Ever since Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, all contestants who have won the Fan Favorite Award have either been first-time playing females or male returning players.
 * James Clement is the lowest placing castaway to win the Fan Favorite Award, as he finished in 7th both seasons he won the award.
 * Ozzy Lusth, Russell Hantz, and James are the only people to win the award twice.
 * Russell and James are the only castaways to be awarded in back-to-back seasons.
 * Bob Crowley is the oldest person, and the oldest male, to win the award. Jane Bright is the oldest female to win the award.
 * J.T. Thomas is the youngest person, and ergo the youngest male, to win the award. Kim Spradlin is the youngest female to win the award.
 * Bob, J.T., Kim and Rob Mariano are the only players to win both the title of Sole Survivor and the Fan Favorite Award in the same season.
 * Lisa Whelchel is the only person to win the award with a known voting difference of less than 1%(0.07%)
 * She is also the only first-time player to win the award in a season that featured returning players.