Former “Dancing With the Stars” pro Cheryl Burke thinks that the series could take a hit in 2025. The reason? The upcoming TikTok ban. Burke feels that the influx of TikTok content has really re-launched DWTS, helping ratings. However, the app is expected to be banned in the USA come January.
“Hopefully that doesn’t get banned. Can you imagine? I think the whole trajectory of the show could change,” Burke said on the December 18 episode of her “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans” podcast.
“And I think it could hurt ‘Dancing With the Stars’ if the ban actually happens come January 19th, which is crazy, right? Like, I don’t see us oldies like I tried going on Snapchat,” she continued, adding that a ban “would be really scary for the show.”
“Though the show got on the bandwagon maybe a year or two late, but still, like I would say a lot of the TikTokers, it’s because of them. That’s why the ratings have been so great and they’ve been, you know, increasing in the demo that matters, which is 18 to 49,” Burke explained.
And Burke isn’t wrong. With the cast including Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa as pros, the DWTS presence on TikTok has definitely grown.
DWTS Had Great Ratings on Season 33
Per a press release from ABC, the ratings for season 33 were up, especially for the season finale.
“The ‘Dancing With the Stars’ season 33 finale shot to 7.95 million Total Viewers and a 1.55 rating in Adults 18-49, growing +25% in Total Viewers (7.95 million vs. 6.36 million) and +36% in Adults 18-49 (1.55 rating vs. 1.14 rating) over the show’s record-setting Live+Same Day audience,” the press release read.
“The finale represented the show’s highest delivery in multiplatform viewing for any “Dancing with the Stars” telecast in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 in three years – since the show’s season 30 premiere on 9/20/21,” it continued.
Per the release, the finale had its highest total viewers in five years and was also up in the 18-49 age range. It’s possible these numbers are due to the increase in TikTok activity.
Insider Kristyn Burtt Thinks a TikTok Ban Will Affect DWTS
Burke isn’t the only person who feels that losing TikTok will cause some problems for season 34.
“Where do we find that audience? Because TikTok is a very different atmosphere from Instagram,” Burtt said on the December 13 episode of Burke’s podcast.
“I really hope that TikTok does not get banned. January 19th is the date. I mean, we’re at what? Five weeks until that happens?” Burtt continued, adding, “The problem is discovering new people and trends on Reels, not the same effect. Yeah, the For You page on TikTok is so great.”
Aside from the pros and contestants taking part in TikTok trends and other fun videos, the official DWTS TikTok account also got some major action. The account has accrued more than 5.2 million followers. It features dozens of videos from the past couple of seasons, and a steep incline in views and likes over the past several months.
