Streaming Guide: Watch 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 35 Without Cable
The show's 35th season premiered with a two-night event on ABC and Disney+. New episodes air live on Tuesdays and become available on Hulu the following day. DirecTV's streaming service offers a free trial and includes local ABC channels.
The return of “Dancing With the Stars” for its 35th season marks a notable shift in how broadcast premieres are consumed, with the dual-platform launch on ABC and Disney+ reflecting a broader industry trend toward hybrid distribution. The show’s availability on Hulu the day after airing, alongside DirecTV’s live-streaming option that includes local affiliates, underscores the growing expectation that audiences can access major network programming without a traditional cable subscription. This accessibility is particularly relevant for a long-running reality competition that relies on weekly viewer engagement and voting.
The multi-platform release could reshape viewing habits for appointment television, as audiences increasingly expect flexibility in when and where they watch. For cord-cutters, the free trial and next-day streaming may lower barriers to participation, potentially expanding the show’s fan base. However, reliance on streaming services could fragment live viewership, affecting real-time voting dynamics and advertising metrics, which may influence how networks schedule future seasons.