ABC has renewed "Dancing With The Stars" for a 17th season, the network announced Tuesday. But "DWTS" has been downsized: The new season will combine the traditional performance and results shows into one two-hour episode that will air weekly on Monday nights instead of the current "DWTS" format, which is a two-hour performance show on Monday and an hourlong results show on Tuesday.
“'Dancing with the Stars'” will now air from 8:00-10:00 p.m., on Mondays, integrating the performance show and results show into one night and making each episode action-packed event television," a release from ABC read.
ABC also announced it has renewed “The Bachelor,” “Castle,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Last Man Standing,” “The Middle,” “Modern Family,” “Nashville,” “The Neighbors,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Revenge,” “Scandal,” “Shark Tank,” “Suburgatory,” “The Taste,” "America's Funniest Home Videos" and “20/20.”
The network will debut its new comedies "The Goldbergs" and "Trophy Wife" in the Tuesday at 9 p.m. timeslot vacated by the "DWTS" results show.
The news comes as "DWTS" is struggling in the ratings. Once a ratings powerhouse, its audience has shrunk this season, particularly in the coveted 18-49 demographic.
ABC Entertainment President Paul Lee commented on the move in a conference call with reporters. "We want to focus 'DWTS' in by taking the results show and building it into a two-hour show," he said, describing the scheduling change as an effort to funnel viewership into one timeslot.
