'Watershed Moment' or Just Shuffling an 'Aging Show'? Pundits Debate the 'Dancing With the Stars' Move to Disney Plus

Dancing with the Stars
(Image credit: ABC/Disney)

A stalwart on the ABC schedule for 16 years and 30 cycles, Disney announced last week that reality competition series Dancing with the Stars will move to Disney Plus for its 31st iteration this fall. 

Gauging what it means to the broader shift from broadcast to streaming, reactions to this particular move are somewhat more polarized than usual. 

LightShed Partners analyst Rich Greenfield, for example, tweeted that the move marked a "watershed moment," proving Disney CEO Bob Chapek and his team are "all-in" in regards to streaming.

Rich Greenfield

(Image credit: Twitter)

Meanwhile, veteran TV business writer Michael Schneider noted DWTS' steadily eroding linear ratings, which saw a record low 5.6 million viewers tune into the Season 30 finale back in November. Schneider postulates that the shift is just a logical move for an "aging show" at this point in its lifecycle.

Michael Schneider

(Image credit: Twitter)

Another veteran TV business reporter, Josef Adalian, wondered if the Dancing with the Stars migration fit Disney's longterm agendas as they relate to the launch of ad-supported streaming on Disney Plus later this year, as well as the ultimate fate of Hulu.

Josef Adalian

(Image credit: Twitter)
Daniel Frankel

Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!