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

The week ahead, June 29-July 5: 'Elle' of a Fourth

Jun 29, 2026

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4 min read

The week ahead, June 29-July 5: 'Elle' of a Fourth

Outside of the World Cup, it's a pretty quiet one leading into a holiday weekend with a bunch of specials.

Jun 28, 2026

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4 min read

Off prime, but not sub-prime

Some of the biggest shows on TV don't air in primetime.

Weekly ratings: 'The Boroughs' optics continue to be bad for Netflix

Jun 25, 2026

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4 min read

Weekly ratings: 'The Boroughs' optics continue to be bad for Netflix

On air, it's pretty much all World Cup at the top.

The week ahead, June 22-28: (Three) Lions and Larry and 'Bear,' oh my

Jun 22, 2026

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5 min read

The week ahead, June 22-28: (Three) Lions and Larry and 'Bear,' oh my

The fifth and final season of 'The Bear' will premiere this week, along with more World Cup games and Larry David's latest for HBO.

Jun 18, 2026

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3 min read

Streaming top 10s: Well this is awkward

'The Boroughs' makes its Nielsen chart debut right after being canceled.

Jun 17, 2026

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3 min read

Weekly on-air numbers: It's all sports

I'm barely even exaggerating.