Dancing With The Stars Ditched ABC For Disney+ Last Year
Last year, Dancing with the Stars moved off of its longtime home network, ABC. Instead, the show was available to stream live exclusively on Disney+.
Many DWTS fans were not pleased with the move. They had grown used to watching the show on ABC after so many years. Additionally, many fans did not want to pay for a Disney+ subscription just to watch DWTS when it was on.
Wishing you a magical holiday filled with cheer ❤️ #DWTS pic.twitter.com/qoG9IxFs9m
— Dancing with the Stars #DWTS (@officialdwts) December 25, 2022
The next season of DWTS is set to premiere this fall. Fans were hopeful the show would return to ABC for its new season. Those hopes rose when Variety reported they had “confirmed with sources” that DWTS would be back on ABC this year.
Reps for Disney declined to comment on the news at the time.
It’s Confirmed – Dancing With The Stars Will Be Back On ABC
Then on Wednesday (May 3), DWTS confirmed it is returning to ABC for its upcoming 32nd season.
“Welcoming Dancing with the Stars back to ABC offers us the unique opportunity to capitalize on the breadth of Disney Entertainment and reach audiences across all our platforms,” said Craig Erwich, the president of Disney Television Group. “Wherever viewers want to watch, we have a home for them to tune in and root for their favorite couple in the ballroom.”
While DWTS will be back on ABC, it’s not leaving Disney+ behind. The show will air live on ABC and be will also be available to steam live on Disney+.
In doing so, DWTS is the first series to ever broadcast on ABC and Disney+ simultaneously.
“Season 31 gave us the opportunity to introduce Dancing with the Stars to a new generation of fans on Disney+, and we are excited to build on that with our partners at ABC and Hulu,” said Disney+ president Alisa Bowen. “We’re looking forward to giving our viewers a front-row seat to the dance floor on another great season of the first-ever live series on Disney+.”
Head below to watch a segment from Good Morning America about DWTS‘ return to ABC. We’re excited for the new season!