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

•

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

•

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

•

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, Nov. 2-8: 'Black Doves' returns. Remember 'Black Doves'?

Nov 2, 2026

•

3 min read

The week ahead, Nov. 2-8: 'Black Doves' returns. Remember 'Black Doves'?

It's been too long.

Streaming top 10s: 'Tis the ghostly season

Oct 29, 2026

•

3 min read

Streaming top 10s: 'Tis the ghostly season

Halloween-related titles pop into the rankings for Oct. 12-18.

Weekly on-air ratings, Oct. 19-25: Another big sports week

Oct 29, 2026

•

4 min read

Weekly on-air ratings, Oct. 19-25: Another big sports week

Eleven of the top 12 shows were live games.

Oct 26, 2026

•

3 min read

The week ahead, Oct. 26-Nov. 1: Boo!

It's Halloween week, and networks and streamers know you might not be watching as much TV.

Oct 22, 2026

•

4 min read

Streaming top 10s: 'Carrie' on

Prime Video's Stephen King adaptation premieres in the top spot in the U.S.

Weekly on-air ratings, Oct. 12-18: A big sports week

Oct 21, 2026

•

4 min read

Weekly on-air ratings, Oct. 12-18: A big sports week

And some more thoughts on the upheaval at Netflix.