Dancing with the Stars is moving to streaming. A long-time runner at ABC, the show is switching gears and going on to Disney+ at the start of the new season. The series, which debuted on ABC in 2005, will jump to Disney+ in the fall. The move comes after a two-season renewal that will take DWTS through a 32nd cycle. Dancing with the Stars will also become the first live series on Disney+.
Per THR, the switch was brought on in part by ABC’s plans to simulcast several games on ESPN’s Monday Night Football slate in the fall. The broadcaster will also have an exclusive Monday Night Football contest at some point in the NFL season.
“Dancing with the Stars has entertained fans for 16 years on ABC, and we are excited to bring this beloved show exclusively to Disney+ as the platform’s first-ever live series,” said Kareem Daniel, chairman of Disney Media, and Entertainment Distribution, in a statement. “The show’s broad appeal, as well as the overwhelming popularity of its Disney-themed competition nights, make Disney+ the perfect home for Dancing With the Stars while continuing to expand our demographic reach.”
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Being an absolute hit for ABC and drawing as many as 20 million viewers per week at its peak, the series has drawn a massive audience over the years. However, as has been the case with virtually all broadcast entertainment series, the show’s audience has declined a lot over the past few years, but it has remained a strong performer. The 30th season put the show in the top half of ABC’s offerings this season, averaging 6.07 million viewers in the fall.
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Dancing with the Stars has had its ABC run for nearly 30 seasons
“Dancing with the Stars has been a beloved staple on ABC for 30 seasons and brought so much joy to millions of viewers,” said Walt Disney Television entertainment chairman Dana Walden. “As we’re significantly expanding our unscripted slate at ABC, this is a great opportunity to introduce this show to a whole new generation of fans on Disney+. We’re so grateful to our incredible partners at BBC Studios and look forward to continuing our relationship with them on this spectacular series, which will continue to be overseen by Rob Mills and the talented Walt Disney Television Alternative team.”
Past seasons of Dancing with the Stars have streamed on Hulu after their broadcast airing, though the show’s past seasons aren’t available there. BBC Studios’ Los Angeles production arm produces Dancing with the Stars, which is based on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Episodes have aired live in the Eastern and Central time zones on ABC, with viewers voting on which performers stay in the competition and results announced a week later.
“The fact that our iconic global format Dancing with the Stars will now set the record as the first live series on Disney+ represents a major growth opportunity and a bold next step forward in the evolution of the franchise,” said Valerie Bruce, general manager of BBC Studios, Los Angeles Productions. “This unprecedented move, combined with our two-season pickup, is a testament to the proven power of Dancing with the Stars and a resounding vote of confidence from our great, supportive partners at Disney, showing how much they value and believe in the brand.”
In recent years, ABC has begun broadcasting game shows and has run fall installments of The Bachelorette in each of the past two seasons in addition to the show’s usual summer run. With Dancing with the Stars moving to Disney+, the two-hour hole on Mondays will need to be filled. However, the network has yet to announce any plans.
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