The Data Stream: TV Ratings and Analysis

Numbers, analysis and enthusiasms about what and how we watch stuff on TV, by Rick Porter.

Featured

Confessions of a Cancel Bear, Vol. 3: Streaming video killed the (minor) internet star

Apr 26, 2026

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8 min read

Confessions of a Cancel Bear, Vol. 3: Streaming video killed the (minor) internet star

Discourse about shows is still often insane, but the environment that allowed TV by the Numbers and the Bear to thrive doesn't exist anymore.

Apr 19, 2026

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5 min read

Confessions of a Cancel Bear, Vol. 2

My three years as the internet persona that mauled underperforming TV shows.

Apr 12, 2026

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9 min read

Confessions of a Cancel Bear, Vol. 1

The history of TV by the Numbers and how I came to run the site and its most famous feature.

Articles

Streaming top 10s: 'Neagley,' like 'Reacher,' is big*

Oct 1, 2026

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3 min read

Streaming top 10s: 'Neagley,' like 'Reacher,' is big*

*The show is, I mean. Not the character.

Weekly on-air ratings, Sept. 21-27: The VMAs party like it's 1990-something

Sep 30, 2026

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3 min read

Weekly on-air ratings, Sept. 21-27: The VMAs party like it's 1990-something

Madonna! Nirvana! Snoop Dogg! And ratings that wouldn't have looked out of place back then.

The week ahead, Sept. 28-Oct. 4: 'East of Eden,' MLB playoffs and a bunch of network shows

Sep 28, 2026

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4 min read

The week ahead, Sept. 28-Oct. 4: 'East of Eden,' MLB playoffs and a bunch of network shows

It's another busy week on the premiere calendar.

Streaming top 10s: 'Lanterns' edges up the charts

Sep 25, 2026

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3 min read

Streaming top 10s: 'Lanterns' edges up the charts

'Reacher' is your overall No. 1 for the fourth time in five weeks.

Weekly on-air ratings, Sept. 14-20: Let's dance

Sep 23, 2026

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4 min read

Weekly on-air ratings, Sept. 14-20: Let's dance

Football leads the week, and 'Dancing with the Stars' starts with a pretty big number.

The week ahead, Sept. 21-27: Welcome to a new season

Sep 21, 2026

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5 min read

The week ahead, Sept. 21-27: Welcome to a new season

The 2026-27 TV campaign starts this week.