Dance Show Finale Captivates Audience with 870,000 Viewers
The grand finale of the popular dance competition show, 'Dancing Stars', aired on ORF 1 on May 23, 2025, captivating audiences across Austria. The event drew in a staggering 870,000 viewers, marking a significant milestone for the series. Aaron Karl and Katya Mizera were crowned the champions of the 16th season, showcasing their remarkable talent and chemistry on the dance floor.
During the finale, which aired live at 20:15, an average of 739,000 viewers tuned in, resulting in a market share of 32%. The episodes featured dancers performing the 'American Smooth' and their 'Favorite Dance', highlighting the contestants' skills and creativity. The finale segment, showcasing the top two couples in a spectacular show dance, attracted an impressive average of 835,000 viewers, achieving a market share of 40%. The final decision segment, where the winners were announced, saw a peak audience of 811,000, with a remarkable market share of 44%.
In a statement reflecting on their victory, Aaron Karl expressed immense gratitude towards his partner, Katya, acknowledging her dedication and hard work throughout the competition. He emphasized the importance of their journey together and thanked the audience and ORF for their support, recognizing that the success of the show is rooted in viewer engagement.
This 16th season of 'Dancing Stars' proved to be exceptionally popular, particularly among younger viewers aged 12 to 29, achieving a market share of 30% in this demographic--its highest rating since 2008. Overall, the season averaged a market share of 27% among all viewers aged 12 and older. Notably, the finale night saw a market share of 41% in the same youthful demographic for the decision segment.
In total, 4.257 million individuals in Austria viewed at least a portion of the season, representing a broad audience reach of 56% of the TV population aged 12 and above. ORF General Director Roland Weißmann praised the season's success, highlighting the show's ability to engage viewers of all ages and expressing appreciation for the efforts of everyone involved, especially the finalists.
Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz, ORF's Program Director, noted that 'Dancing Stars' continues to be a celebration of joy and entertainment, crediting the show's dedicated team for delivering enjoyable viewing experiences week after week.
The success of the series is also reflected in its online presence, with ORF Video streams for the 16th season recording approximately 920,000 net views and a total of around 5 million gross views. The engagement translated into a total viewing time of 41.5 million minutes across all streaming platforms, indicating a strong digital following.
As the dust settles on this season's finale, fans can look forward to special programming celebrating '70 Years of Television' on ORF 1, featuring appearances from Aaron Karl and other finalists. This programming promises to revisit memorable moments from the show's history, ensuring that the entertainment continues even after the curtains close on this season of 'Dancing Stars'.