The season premiere of ABC’s “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” featuring new host Ryan Seacrest, garnered significant attention, attracting 3.55 million viewers on Friday, September 26. This viewership represents the show’s largest audience in nearly two years, marking a 17% increase compared to last year’s premiere, which drew 3.04 million viewers during Pat Sajak’s final hosting season.
Seacrest assumed the hosting duties from Sajak, who had been at the helm since the show’s inception, alongside co-host Vanna White. While Seacrest took over the daytime version for the 2024-2025 season, he is now also leading the ABC primetime version. The show’s new time slot, Friday at 8 p.m. ET, has reaped substantial rewards, as it emerged as the top program for the night in broadcast television, achieving its highest audience since December 13, 2023.
The premiere was notable not only for its ratings but also for its strategic programming decisions. It outperformed CBS’s “Big Brother” by an impressive 82% in total viewers, with 3.55 million compared to “Big Brother’s” 1.95 million. The episode included appearances by contestants from “Dancing with the Stars,” including Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and Jenna Johnson, showcasing strong cross-promotion within ABC’s lineup. Upcoming episodes promise to feature more star power, with Retta from “Parks and Recreation,” Joey McIntyre from New Kids on the Block, and actor Oliver Hudson.
Seacrest’s transition to “Wheel of Fortune” has been fruitful; the syndicated version for the 2024-2025 TV season saw increases in both household ratings and total viewers. Last season, “Wheel” averaged 7.93 million viewers, reflecting a small increase from the previous year, with a household rating of 4.6, up 1% from the prior season.
As Pat Sajak retired after more than four decades as host, he made his final appearances in the ABC edition last season. “Wheel of Fortune” has now begun its 43rd season in syndication, continuing to engage audiences with new dynamics and star-studded episodes, which bodes well for its future under Seacrest’s hosting.