A dozen professional dancers (Derek Hough, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Cheryl Burke, Tony Dovolani, Mark Ballas, Lacey Schwimmer, Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, Tristan MacManus, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Peta Murgatroyd, and Kym Johnson) partner with 12 celebrities (Ron Artest, David Arquette, Chaz Bono, Elisabetta Canalis, Kristin Cavallari, Nancy Grace, Rob Kardashian, Carson Kressley, Ricki Lake, J.R. Martinez, Chynna Phillips, and Hope Solo) to compete for a title and a pretty ugly trophy. The 13th season of Dancing with the Stars typically airs Monday nights at 8pm and Tuesday nights at 9pm on the ABC network.
Here are the TV show’s ratings for the 2011-12 season, the best way to tell if Dancing with the Stars is going to be cancelled or renewed for season 15 (the show’s already been renewed for the spring cycle, season 14). Check out our ABC ratings report card to see how this show’s numbers compare with the others on the network.
These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:
Final fall season average (performance shows): 3.28 in the demo with 17.56 million.
Final fall season average (results shows): 2.96 in the demo with 15.44 million.
Tuesday, 11/22/11 (results)
4.1 in the demo (+52% week-to-week change) with 19.56 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 2.96 in the demo with 15.44 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 5 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Monday, 11/21/11 (performance)
3.5 in the demo (+9% week-to-week change) with 19.61 million; second in the timeslot.
Performance season average: 3.28 in the demo with 17.56 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 5 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Tuesday, 11/15/11 (results)
2.7 in the demo (-4% week-to-week change) with 15.10 million; third in the timeslot at 9pm, second at 9:30pm.
Results season average: 2.83 in the demo with 14.99 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 5 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Monday, 11/14/11 (performance)
3.2 in the demo (-6% week-to-week change) with 17.95 million; second in the timeslot.
Performance season average: 3.26 in the demo with 17.33 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 5 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Tuesday, 11/08/11 (results)
2.8 in the demo (0% week-to-week change) with 15.07 million; third in the timeslot at 9pm, second at 9:30pm.
Results season average: 2.85 in the demo with 14.97 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 5 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Monday, 11/07/11 (performance)
3.4 in the demo (+21% week-to-week change) with 18.16 million; second in the timeslot.
Performance season average: 3.26 in the demo with 17.25 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 5 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Tuesday, 11/01/11 (results)
2.8 in the demo (+8% week-to-week change) with 15.45 million; third in the timeslot.
Results season average: 2.86 in the demo with 14.96 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 5 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Monday, 10/31/11 (performance)
2.8 in the demo (-13% week-to-week change) with 16.29 million; second in the timeslot.
Performance season average: 3.24 in the demo with 17.12 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 5 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Tuesday, 10/25/11 (results)
2.6 in the demo (0% week-to-week change) with 14.1 million; third in the timeslot.
Results season average: 2.9 in the demo with 14.88 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 5 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Monday, 10/24/11 (performance)
3.1 in the demo (-6% week-to-week change) with 17.0 million; third in the timeslot.
Performance season average: 3.3 in the demo with 17.26 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 5 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Tuesday, 10/18/11 (results)
2.6 in the demo (-21% week-to-week change) with 13.8 million; third in the timeslot.
Results season average: 2.9 in the demo with 15.03 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 5 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Monday, 10/17/11 (performance)
3.3 in the demo (+10% week-to-week change) with 17.76 million; second in the timeslot.
Performance season average: 3.3 in the demo with 17.27 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 5 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Tuesday, 10/11/11 (results)
3.3 in the demo (+14% week-to-week change) with 16.89 million; first in the timeslot.
Results season average: 3.0 in the demo with 15.34X million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 5 non-scripted TV shows currently on the network.
Monday, 10/10/11 (performance)
3.0 in the demo (-3% week-to-week change) with 16.79 million; second in the timeslot.
Performance season average: 3.4 in the demo with 17.15 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 5 non-scripted TV shows currently on the network.
Tuesday, 10/4/11 (results)
2.8 in the demo (0% week-to-week change) with 15.28 million; third place in the timeslot.
Results season average: 2.9 in the demo with 14.82 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 5 non-scripted TV shows currently on the network.
Monday, 10/3/11 (performance)
3.1 in the demo (-6% week-to-week change) with 16.56 million; second in its timeslot at 8pm and in third place at 9pm.
Performance season average: 3.5 in the demo with 17.27 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 5 non-scripted TV shows currently on the network.
Tuesday, 9/27/11 (results)
This episode matched last week’s in the demo with a 2.9 rating and 14.39 million viewers, far below what it was attracting last fall.
Results season average: 2.9 demo with 14.59 million.
Monday, 9/26/11 (performance)
Another disappointing night. The second performance show dropped 18% in the demo to a 3.3 rating and 16.23 million. Overall viewership is still positive but the demo represents a series low for a competition episode. Ouch.
Performance season average: 3.6 in the demo and 17.63 million.
Tuesday, 9/20/11 (results)
The first results show was way down year-to-year. It registered a 2.9 in the demo and 14.79 million viewers. When compared to last fall’s episode, it was down by 34% in the demo (4.4) and 20% in viewers (18.52 million). It was beaten in its timeslot by both NCIS and FOX’s New Girl and Raising Hope. DWTS is off to a poor start for sure.
Monday, 9/19/11 (performance)
The reality show returned with a 4.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 19.03 million viewers. That was down year-to-year by 22% in the demo (5.3) and 11% in total viewers (21.29 million). It was still a very healthy performance but was in second place in its timeslot, likely heavily impacted by the return of Two and a Half Men on CBS.
Reference point: The Fall 2010-11 season’s performance shows averaged a 4.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 20.61 million viewers. The results shows averaged a 3.7 in the demo and 17.85 million viewers.
Note: These ratings are collected by the Nielsen company and are the final national numbers. These are different from the fast affiliate numbers which are just estimates of the actual ratings and are reported on by most other outlets. The final nationals are typically released within 24 hours of the programming or, in the case of weekends and holidays, a couple days later.
What do you think? Do you like the new Dancing with the Stars TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for a 15th season?
Image courtesy ABC.
[…] point: The 2011-12 season averaged a 2.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 10.91 million […]
I love the show because I love to watch dancing. That being said, I think the ratings are down because re: of how liberal the Hollywood crowd is, most Americans are tolerant and do not care what your sexual preference is. However, what we do care about is the sexual preference and the idealism you are pushing being shoved down our throats, by making a big publicity issue of it. I personally did not watch the first week. I watched from then on. Carson could not dance, he was silly and over the top “flamboyant”. I do not like Steve… Read more »
Why is this show still on? Oh, I know why. It’s because people keep watching this crap!
This show is a mess. It is too long and the judging sucks. It should be on one night only or not at all.
I do not like the method of determining who is eliminated. To often the vote is not based on dancing performance but on the popularity of the contestant. The public vote should be weighted and the judges vote should count more. So often Len destroys the contestant by picking them apart. He cast a lower number of points than the other judges. He simply is an old grump who very rarely says anything to uplift those who are trying so hard. He has destroyed Hope Solo this season,he accused her of not even trying or working hard. Tony has probably… Read more »
Chaz Bono should have been off the show in the first week. He stayed because he has a famous mom. This show sucks, and I wish it would go away.
I really like that Chaz Bono. DWTS would have zero ratings this season if it weren’t for his collossal dancing skills and magnetic, energetic personality. Everyone else is bringing it down. CB for the win!!!!! Sonny and Cher, you raised a fine young man who is a shining example to all. You should write a book showcasing your exceptional parenting techniques so we can be graced by more like him. Peace!
Love the show, hate the scoring. After last night I won’t be watching for the rest of the season. The show has lost its’ focus, which is to dismiss the worst dancers and finally declare the best dancer the winner. It has obviously become a popularity contest, depending on which segment of the population you represent. This is a shame, as I really enjoy watching the improvements from week to week, and was really looking forward to seeing more performances by Ricki Lake and JR, but I can’t condone what happened last night. Who wants to watch people who can… Read more »
I think the show is doing really well this season considering they don’t have a single star this season. Well, I guess David Arquette and Ricki Lake qualify as stars, but it is a stretch to think that you are a star if you are a daughter of stars or if you are the brother of a porn star or the girlfriend of a star.
Absolutely discusting!!!!! STARS, where are they, a bunch of wannabe STARS!! this is the most bias, prejudice show on TV!! Competition is so unfare andmis matched. You all need to come up with better themes and classifications for STARS. Chad/Chaz is not a star, he/she parents were STARS, Rob Kardashian is not a star, I mean really, you all can’t find real STARs to participate because your judges are so nasty, rude, prejudice, bias, and yes very RACIST. KerriAnn is jealous of all women who look better than her and it shows!! How about having a season with all athletes,… Read more »
Someone should lose their job over adding Chaz to the lineup on DWTS. Pushing the envelope over a cliff doesn’t seem to have been a bright idea
If DWTS can’t find REAL stars to be on the show (i.e., legitimate actors, actresses, sports figures, etc.) rather than reality show people or those that wish they were stars because of whatever controversy, then the show should be cancelled.
I’m not viewing the current season because DWTS is starless!