Since its debut in 2005, Dancing with the Stars has captivated audiences, but ABC has traditionally kept viewer voting numbers under wraps – until now. This season, the celebrity dance competition is experiencing unprecedented levels of fan engagement, highlighted by a record-shattering number of votes cast for a single episode.
The episode aired on September 24th, which saw the elimination of both Anna Delvey and Tori Spelling, garnered an astounding 14 million viewer votes. This landmark figure represents the highest number of votes ever recorded for a single episode in the show’s history, signaling a significant surge in audience participation and enthusiasm for Season 33.
This remarkable achievement surpasses the voting activity seen even in Season 12, when Hines Ward and Kym Johnson secured victory in front of over 22 million viewers, the series’ most-watched season. Fans are given the power to support their favorite celebrity dancers through online voting at dwtsvote.abc.com and via text messaging.
Executive producer Conrad Green emphasized the passion of the DWTS fanbase, stating, “Viewers can vote multiple times, so if they’re particularly passionate about certain couples they can vote up to 10 times for each couple. The record number of votes that week suggests to me that a lot of our audience are very passionate about a lot of our stars this year, and the increased ratings year or year would suggest that it is the case.” This surge in votes indicates a deep connection between viewers and the current cast of celebrities.
Image related to Dancing With The Stars Week 2 elimination night featuring Tori Spelling and Anna Delvey.
The Season 33 premiere also demonstrated robust viewership across multiple platforms. Within seven days of release, encompassing linear viewing on ABC, streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, and other digital platforms, the premiere episode averaged 7.32 million total viewers and achieved a 1.31 rating among adults aged 18-49. This represents a significant increase of 47% in total viewers and a striking 79% increase in the 18-49 demographic compared to the initial Live+Same Day figures.
The strong performance continued into the second week. Dancing with the Stars is averaging a 0.81 rating in the crucial 18-49 demographic based on L+3 viewing data over the first two episodes. This two-episode average surpasses the previous season’s average in the same demographic by 17%, demonstrating consistent growth and appeal.
Green attributes the show’s enduring success to the captivating cast, which this season includes Olympic athletes like Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik, NBA champion Dwight Howard, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks. “This group of stars are really likable, talented and love being on the show — and that passion for what they’re doing really comes through on live TV. There’s real dance talent across the cast and lot of unique stories as well as so much potential in the couples to grow as performers.”
Image related to Dancing With The Stars Week 2 elimination night featuring Tori Spelling and Anna Delvey.
He further suggests that Dancing with the Stars offers a welcome sense of positivity and community during challenging times. “Also, Dancing with the Stars is a really positive show at a time when the world is feeling pretty bleak, so there’s a certain escapism and sense of community that comes with watching which helps remind us of what we have in common as Americans,” Green noted. The show’s longevity has also fostered a generational appeal, with new audiences discovering DWTS through social media platforms like TikTok, and families watching together.
Fans can look forward to the upcoming episode, “Soul Train Night,” where the dancing continues, and the excitement builds, promising even more memorable moments in this record-breaking season of Dancing with the Stars.
