‘Dancing With the Stars’ Fan Fury: Some Claim Show’s Disney+ Move Has Everything to Do With Voting Fairness
Dancing with the Stars fans are reeling from the news the longtime ABC stalwart is moving to Disney+ for season 31. Longtime viewers are enraged over the move. Some say they don’t want to pay to watch the series, while others took their outrage one step further. They claim the show’s move to Disney+ has everything to do with voting fairness.
‘Dancing with the Stars’ shocked fans with the Disney+ announcement
The Hollywood Reporter reported Dancing with the Stars was renewed for two cycles on Disney+. This switch ensures it will remain on air until its 32nd season.
“Dancing With the Stars has entertained fans for 16 years on ABC. 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, as reported by THR.
“The show’s broad appeal and 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.”
Dancing with the Stars is the first live series to air on Disney+.
NFL Football will subsequently occupy the Monday 8-10 PM slot on the fall schedule that Dancing with the Stars has occupied for the past 15 years.
Fans claim ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is trying to change voting again
Get the Mirrorball ready. 🤩 Dancing with the Stars is moving to a new home when it returns this fall as the first LIVE series on #DisneyPlus! #DWTS 💃🕺 pic.twitter.com/CKmfgSgOZF
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) April 8, 2022
When Dancing with the Stars debuted in 2005, viewer voting came after the show via toll-free numbers and the ABC website. As social media evolved, the show added Facebook and text votes. This modification allowed both the East and West coast viewers to cast ballots when they saw the series in real-time.
To stop fans from voting excessively for their favorites, in season 28, DWTS revamped the technique.
Voting was changed and began at the show’s beginning, with a different number and hashtag for each couple. It ended right after the last dance. West coast viewers subsequently voted for dances they wouldn’t get to watch for three hours after the EST premiere of the live show.
In a Twitter feed, fans were up in arms over the move to streaming, claiming the radical switch had a lot to do with viewer votes.
“Just wondering, why is this better? What about long-time fans who don’t have or won’t pay for Disney+?? Doesn’t the audience get smaller? What about voters that won’t watch during broadcast/voting time? How will their votes get counted fairly?” asked one follower.
“This has to do with voting. Allowing the show to go live at a certain time allows everyone, no matter what time zone, to watch it simultaneously. Therefore, this means everyone can watch the show and vote. No more complaining about people’s favorites not winning, I guess,” claimed a second Twitter user.
“Is this due to ABC ratings tanking after all the changes made in the last few seasons?” questioned a third fan.
When will the series debut on Disney+?
Dancing with the Stars will make its debut on Disney+ beginning in September of 2022, coinciding with the series’ 31st season.
Thus far, Tyra Banks will remain as host of the series.
Neither the celebrity contestants, pros nor the judges have been announced for season 31
Dancing with the Stars is currently on hiatus.
