"It's only appropriate that Dancing With the Stars devoted an entire night to last week, because this year, the show's ratings and buzz are defying gravity in the most spectacular ways. At a time when double-digit declines are the norm for linear shows, ABC's variety-competition staple kicked off its 34th season in September by scoring its biggest premiere numbers since 2020 - and then proceeded to grow its viewership for five consecutive weeks,"
"A cast packed with lots of social-media influencers, Mormon wives, and one particularly adorable late-night sidekick has certainly helped woo the under-35 set. But Dancing's dominant performance this fall actually has its roots in a move ABC and its parent company, Disney, made back in early 2023. That's when Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden, just a few months into her new role overseeing both streaming and linear TV, abruptly reversed a decision made by her predecessors to pull DWTS from ABC's lineup"
Dancing With the Stars achieved its biggest premiere since 2020 and grew viewership for five consecutive weeks, a feat not seen since Nielsen modern era began in 1991. The ratings surge was fueled by significant gains among Gen Z and younger millennial viewers. A cast including social-media influencers, Mormon wives, and a popular late-night sidekick attracted under-35 viewers. In early 2023, Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden reversed plans to make the show Disney+ exclusive. ABC affiliates agreed to return the show to network TV with live simulcasts on Disney+ and next-day availability on Hulu. The hybrid distribution preserved legacy viewers while reaching cord-cutters.
Read at Vulture
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