'World of Dance': What Led to Season 2 Renewal

Jenna Dewan Tatum, World of Dance on NBC

Analysis. Ratings and qualities of new NBC show 'World of Dance', executive produced by Jennifer Lopez.

Friday, July 14, 2017

American summer TV has found its main format success: new dance competition 'World of Dance'. NBC has renewed it for a second season just a month after the season 1 premiere, emphasizing the fact that 'World of Dance' is "the most-watched summer alternative series debut on cable or broadcast in nine years".

'World of Dance', hosted by Jenna Dewan Tatum and judged by Ne-Yo, Derek Hough and Jennifer Lopez, who also serves as executive producer and is "leader for this franchise" according to NBC, has been a strong performer on Tuesdays, 10-11PM. It has averaged 2.7 rating in 18-49 with first five episodes, including 7-day time shifted viewing (source: Nielsen). That’s well above channel's summer averages.
 

'World of Dance' on NBC
(source: Nielsen. Season through July 9, 2017. Most current data including 7-day time shifted viewing)

Target group # of homes/persons Rating
18-49 3.4 mil. 2.7
2+ 10.6 mil. 3.5
Households 7.6 mil. 6.4

Also data with just live+same day viewing are positive for 'World of Dance'. The show launched to promising 2.4 rating in the demo at the end of May and continued with steady 1.8-1.9 ratings in the following weeks, while NBC achieves ratings close to 1 this summer.
 

'World of Dance' weekly 18-49 ratings
(source: Nielsen, live+SD)



In our opinion, main reasons why 'World of Dance' succeeded are strong names attached to the U.S. version and, most of all, lead-in of 'America's Got Talent' on Tuesdays 8-10PM. 'America's Got Talent' is summer’s highest rated show with 3.5 rating in 18-49 (Live+7 data) and approximately 2.6 ratings in live+same day viewing and 'World of Dance' proves to be a very good choice as its lead-out. This fact makes it harder for format seller NBCUniversal to find potential buyers for the format abroad. However, 'World of Dance' is a solid, simple format suitable mostly for big markets and territories with tradition of dance competition genre, so there is a chance. No format deal has been announced yet.

 
Other format highlights:

  • On Sunday, July 9 (10-11PM), premiere of 'Candy Crush' on CBS achieved 1.1 live+SD rating in 18-49, a solid premiere according to The Hollywood Reporter. 'Candy Crush' is a new live action game show based on the mobile game. More about the format
  • Co-production scripted series 'Loaded', premieres Monday, July 17, on AMC. The series is based on Israeli format by Keshet Interational

All data: Nielsen