"Season 34 premier of 'Dancing With the Stars' attracts 5.5 million viewers and records 21 million votes, experiencing a significant increase of 163%"
The 34th season of the beloved dance competition series "Dancing With the Stars" made a triumphant return to ABC on September 16, 2022. The premiere episode, which marked the first after the exits of long-time hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews, proved to be a resounding success.
With a whopping 5.5 million total viewers and a 1.1 rating with adults 18-49, "DWTS" beat the combined averages of all broadcast competition in the time period. This victory was a repeat of the show's 20-year history, as it has consistently been a ratings powerhouse.
The fan voting for this season started strong, with 21 million votes cast, a 163% increase from last season's premiere. Social interactions for Season 34 were up 58%, with 2.7 million interactions. These numbers indicate a passionate and engaged audience, ready to support their favourite contestants.
The Season 34 cast includes a diverse range of personalities, such as "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" stars Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck, social media mogul Alix Earle, and reality personality Dylan Efron.
The premiere of the new show "High Potential," which aired one day before Disney and ABC were embroiled in controversy over the company's decision to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, garnered 4.19 million total viewers, a 18% increase from last year's series premiere. However, the impact of the controversy on next week's live episodes of both "Dancing With the Stars" and "High Potential" remains unclear, as it is currently undecided whether any of the contestants will comment or make a statement on air about the news.
The first-day streaming of the Season 2 "High Potential" episode on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ saw a 51% increase in views compared to the pilot episode's first day.
Interestingly, "Dancing With the Stars" has been on the air for 20 years, making it a staple of American television. The series is produced by BBC Studios. Last season ended on top, with the finale averaging nearly 8 million viewers and a 1.55 rating with adults 18-49. The Season 34 premiere is the series' biggest premiere in five years, since Season 29 in 2020.
Unfortunately, the participants of the 34th season are not listed in the provided search results.
In a competitive landscape, "Dancing With the Stars" continues to captivate audiences and set the bar high for dance competition shows. As the season progresses, it will be exciting to see how the contestants rise to the challenge and vie for the coveted mirrorball trophy.
