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 best, worst and WTF-est of the upfronts, plus weekly numbers for May 4-10

May 14, 2026

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6 min read

The best, worst and WTF-est of the upfronts, plus weekly numbers for May 4-10

Streaming top 10s for April 13-19 are here too.

May 11, 2026

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4 min read

Upfronts day 1: That was exhausting

Running down a bunch of news from NBC, Fox and Amazon.

Upfronts and finales and 'Dutton Ranch': Previewing a hectic week

May 10, 2026

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6 min read

Upfronts and finales and 'Dutton Ranch': Previewing a hectic week

What to expect as media companies sell their wares to advertisers.

Weekly numbers, April 27-May 3: Derby dominance — plus, give me your feedback

May 7, 2026

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4 min read

Weekly numbers, April 27-May 3: Derby dominance — plus, give me your feedback

Streaming top 10s for April 6-12 are here too.

The week ahead, May 4-10: 'Grey's Anatomy' ends (for this season)

May 4, 2026

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4 min read

The week ahead, May 4-10: 'Grey's Anatomy' ends (for this season)

Here are your premiere, finale and special dates for the next seven days.

May 3, 2026

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3 min read

Welcome to the home stretch: It's May

The TV season is coming to a close, which means a crush of news and big episodes are on the way.