‘American Idol’ to Stream Live on Disney+ For the First Time, Launches Companion Podcast (EXCLUSIVE)
Disney+ is going to Hollywood! Starting next month, “American Idol” will stream live on Disney+ in addition to ABC for the first time. (The show will also continue to stream tape-delayed the next day on Hulu). That means “American Idol” will join “Dancing With the Stars” as a live unscripted competition series that simulcasts on both ABC and Disney+.
Concurrently with the news, Disney+ and Hulu are also launching the companion “‘American Idol’ Official Podcast.” The premiere of the new video podcast will coincide with the start of “American Idol” live shows at the end of March.
Besides Disney+ and Hulu, the “American Idol” Official Podcast will be available on other podcasting platforms as well; host and other details are still to come. Per the podcast logline: “Each week, the podcast will dive deeper into America’s most iconic music competition series, exploring the performances everyone’s talking about, and offering exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes insights, and expert analysis of the judges’ critiques.”
The new “American Idol” live stream on Disney+ starts on March 30, as the show continues to air live on ABC stations in local time zones. (“American Idol” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.)
“American Idol” returned for Season 24 (ABC’s Season 9) on Jan. 26 with its most-watched opener in four years, averaging 8.27 million viewers in live+3 and multiplatform viewing — including ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms. In adults 18-49, it was a 1.04 rating. That made it the best premiere for “American Idol” since 2022.
The premiere was also up a strong 20% in total viewers vs. last year’s regular premiere (6.88 million on March 9, 2025) and up 7% with adults 18-49 (vs. 0.97 rating). (The numbers from 2026 include Nielsen National Live+3 day big data plus panel program ratings and ABC multiplatform+3 day ratings, while 2025 is based on big data plus panel. Comparisons exclude last year’s post-Oscars sneak-peek episode on March 2, 2025.)
Also, in linear, the “American Idol” season premiere was the No. 1 show of the night on broadcast and cable in both viewers (7.23 million) and 18-49 (0.72 rating) in live+3 ratings. And according to Talkwalker social content ratings, ABC said the premiere episode “drove more video views than any other premiere episode in the 2025-2026 TV season.”
“American Idol” continues to be hosted by Ryan Seacrest, while Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie are the show’s judges. Among other changes this year: A new “‘Ohana Round” featured the show’s top 30 finalists performing for industry tastemakers (as well as family and friends) at Disney’s Aulani resort on ‘Oahu; also, “Hollywood Week” moved to Nashville this year, with just one round in “Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover.”
Fremantle and 19 Entertainment, a part of Sony Pictures Television, are the production companies behind “American Idol.” Executive producers include Megan Wolflick (who is also showrunner), while Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman executive produce for 19 Entertainment. Fremantle distributes the series worldwide.
Concurrently with the news, Disney+ and Hulu are also launching the companion “‘American Idol’ Official Podcast.” The premiere of the new video podcast will coincide with the start of “American Idol” live shows at the end of March.
Besides Disney+ and Hulu, the “American Idol” Official Podcast will be available on other podcasting platforms as well; host and other details are still to come. Per the podcast logline: “Each week, the podcast will dive deeper into America’s most iconic music competition series, exploring the performances everyone’s talking about, and offering exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes insights, and expert analysis of the judges’ critiques.”
The new “American Idol” live stream on Disney+ starts on March 30, as the show continues to air live on ABC stations in local time zones. (“American Idol” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.)
“American Idol” returned for Season 24 (ABC’s Season 9) on Jan. 26 with its most-watched opener in four years, averaging 8.27 million viewers in live+3 and multiplatform viewing — including ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms. In adults 18-49, it was a 1.04 rating. That made it the best premiere for “American Idol” since 2022.
The premiere was also up a strong 20% in total viewers vs. last year’s regular premiere (6.88 million on March 9, 2025) and up 7% with adults 18-49 (vs. 0.97 rating). (The numbers from 2026 include Nielsen National Live+3 day big data plus panel program ratings and ABC multiplatform+3 day ratings, while 2025 is based on big data plus panel. Comparisons exclude last year’s post-Oscars sneak-peek episode on March 2, 2025.)
Also, in linear, the “American Idol” season premiere was the No. 1 show of the night on broadcast and cable in both viewers (7.23 million) and 18-49 (0.72 rating) in live+3 ratings. And according to Talkwalker social content ratings, ABC said the premiere episode “drove more video views than any other premiere episode in the 2025-2026 TV season.”
“American Idol” continues to be hosted by Ryan Seacrest, while Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie are the show’s judges. Among other changes this year: A new “‘Ohana Round” featured the show’s top 30 finalists performing for industry tastemakers (as well as family and friends) at Disney’s Aulani resort on ‘Oahu; also, “Hollywood Week” moved to Nashville this year, with just one round in “Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover.”
Fremantle and 19 Entertainment, a part of Sony Pictures Television, are the production companies behind “American Idol.” Executive producers include Megan Wolflick (who is also showrunner), while Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman executive produce for 19 Entertainment. Fremantle distributes the series worldwide.