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

Weekly on-air ratings, Aug. 31-Sept. 6: College football enjoys a weekend to itself

Sep 10, 2026

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3 min read

Weekly on-air ratings, Aug. 31-Sept. 6: College football enjoys a weekend to itself

Labor Day weekend, before the NFL starts up for real, is a showcase for the college kids.

The week ahead, Sept. 7-13: The NFL is about to take over

Sep 7, 2026

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4 min read

The week ahead, Sept. 7-13: The NFL is about to take over

The season starts this week.

Weekly on-air ratings, Aug. 24-30: Saying goodbye to Dolly Parton

Sep 5, 2026

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3 min read

Weekly on-air ratings, Aug. 24-30: Saying goodbye to Dolly Parton

The American icon drew viewers to primetime TV last week.

Streaming top 10s: 'Ted Lasso' is still very popular

Sep 3, 2026

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3 min read

Streaming top 10s: 'Ted Lasso' is still very popular

Plus a double shot of YA in the Nielsen charts for early August.

The week ahead, Aug. 31-Sept. 6: So long to summer (unofficially)

Aug 31, 2026

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4 min read

The week ahead, Aug. 31-Sept. 6: So long to summer (unofficially)

One more light week before the post-Labor Day wave of fall premieres starts.

Aug 30, 2026

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4 min read

What working the IP mines gets you

Not much more than developing original ideas, it turns out.